Individual Travel, Lifestyles and Obesity: Examining Individual Energy Expenditure Based on the American Time Use Survey

摘要

It has been widely reported that individual travel has significant implications for obesity.This research tries to clarify the connection between travel and obesity from an individualenergy expenditure perspective. It is hypothesized here that individual travel affects thelikelihood of becoming obese directly because of a reliance on travel modes requiringlow individual energy expenditure. Individual travel also affects obesity indirectlybecause the fatigue and stress associated with driving reduces time allocated for physicalactivities and exercise. This research uses six years of the American Time Use Surveydata to examine individual travel, energy expenditure and obesity. Individual activitiesare aggregated into four categories according to their varied levels of energy intensity.Empirical analysis illustrates how individual weight status and individual travel arecorrelated and how this correlation can be explained from the perspective of individualenergy expenditure. The research results feed the current dialogue on planning and publichealth with a clarified connection between travel and obesity.