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Cited by 125Urban Transport and AccessibilityObesity, Physical Activity, DietPhysical Activity and Health

Public transit, obesity, and medical costs: Assessing the magnitudes

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Edwards, Ryan D.·2008·Preventive Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.10.004
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Abstract

Objective This paper assesses the potential benefits of increased walking and reduced obesity associated with taking public transit in terms of dollars of medical costs saved and disability avoided.Methods I conduct a new analysis of a nationally representative U.S. transportation survey to gauge the net increase in walking associated with public transit usage. I translate minutes spent walking into energy expenditures and reductions in obesity prevalence, estimating the present value of costs and disability that may be avoided.Results Taking public transit is associated with walking 8.3 more minutes per day on average, or an additional 25.7-39.0 kcal. Hill et al. [Hill, J.O., Wyatt, H.R., Reed, G.W., Peters, J.C., 2003. Obesity and the environment: Where do we go from here? Science 299 (5608), 853-855] estimate that an increase in net expenditure of 100 kcal/day can stop the increase in obesity in 90% of the population. Additional walking associated with public transit could save $5500 per person in present value by reducing obesity-related medical costs. Savings in quality-adjusted life years could be even higher.Conclusions While no silver bullet, walking associated with public transit can have a substantial impact on obesity, costs, and well-being. Further research is warranted on the net impact of transit usage on all behaviors, including caloric intake and other types of exercise, and on whether policies can promote transit usage at acceptable cost.

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Authors
Edwards, R. D.
Affiliations
Queens College, CUNY (US)
Corresponding author
Edwards, Ryan D.
ORCID
Edwards, Ryan D.
Venue
Preventive Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-01
Volume
46
Issue
1
Pages
14-21
ISSN
0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.10.004
OpenAlex
W1988590663
Cited by
125
References
38
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
FWCI
20.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University Libraries (University of Maryland) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (University of Maryland College Park)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
public transport, walking, obesity, health care costs, energy expenditure, quality-adjusted life years, transportation and health, cost reduction, physical activity
MeSH terms
Aged, Data Collection, Energy Metabolism, Health Expenditures, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Transportation, United States, Walking, Public Sector

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