You may not like going to work in the morning, but the way you get there can have a positive influence on your overall health.

You may not like going to work in the morning, but the way you get there can have a positive influence on your overall health. The journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has published a study that found middle-aged people who walk, ride a bike, or even take public transportation to their workplace tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who regularly drive.

The reason is simple: More physical activity keeps weight down and results in better overall health. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine looked at data from 150,000 people ages 40–69. Not surprisingly, those who biked to the office weighed showed a healthier BMI than those who drive their cars, followed by walkers and then workers who took a bus or train.

Although walking or biking may be impossible for many people, the physical activity involved in just getting to the bus stop or train station can have a significant positive effect.