A new study from China looked at whether spending a lot of time commuting to work affects what people eat. Researchers found that workers with longer commutes tend to eat fewer healthy foods like fish, vegetables, eggs, and milk—even when they earn more money. The longer the commute, the worse the diet quality became, and this problem got even bigger as workers got older. Surprisingly, the study also found that long commutes affected not just the workers themselves, but also their children’s eating habits. The researchers suggest that cities should be designed to reduce commuting times so families can eat healthier.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does spending a lot of time commuting to work make people eat worse, even if they make good money?
  • Who participated: Chinese workers and their families who were part of a large national health survey. The exact number of participants wasn’t specified in the abstract, but the study used real-world data from many households across China.
  • Key finding: Workers with longer commutes ate significantly less healthy food—including fish, seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk, and nuts—compared to those with shorter commutes. This was true even when they earned more money. The effect got worse as people got older and also affected their children’s diets.
  • What it means for you: If you have a long commute, you may need to be extra intentional about eating healthy foods. The study suggests that reducing commute times through better city planning could help families eat better overall. However, this is observational research, so it shows a connection but doesn’t prove that commuting directly causes poor eating habits.

The Research Details

This study analyzed data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), which is a large ongoing project that tracks what Chinese families eat and their health over time. The researchers looked at information about workers’ commute times, their income, and the foods they ate. They examined whether longer commutes were connected to eating fewer healthy foods, and whether this connection was different for people at different ages or with different income levels.

The researchers used statistical methods to understand these connections while accounting for other factors that might affect diet, like income. They specifically looked at whether commuting time interfered with the positive effects that higher income usually has on eating better food.

Most previous research has focused on how commuting causes stress and general health problems. This study is unique because it looks specifically at diet—what people actually eat—as one of the ways that long commutes might harm health. By including income in their analysis, the researchers could show that the problem isn’t just about money; even when workers earn more, long commutes still prevent them from eating well. This helps explain one specific way that commuting affects health.

This study used real-world survey data from a well-established health tracking project in China, which is a strength. However, the study shows connections between commuting and diet but cannot prove that commuting directly causes poor eating. The sample size wasn’t clearly reported in the abstract, which makes it harder to evaluate the study’s precision. The findings are specific to China, so they may not apply exactly the same way in other countries with different work cultures and food systems.

What the Results Show

The study found four main results. First, longer commuting time reduced the positive effect that higher income normally has on diet quality. In other words, even when workers earned more money, those with long commutes didn’t eat as well as they should have.

Second, workers with longer commutes ate significantly less of several healthy foods: fish, seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk, and nuts. This means their overall diet quality was lower because they were missing important nutrients from these foods.

Third, the negative effect of long commutes on diet got worse as workers got older. Older workers with long commutes had particularly poor diets compared to younger workers with similar commute times.

Fourth, the researchers discovered that long commutes didn’t just affect the workers themselves—they also reduced the diet quality of the workers’ children. This suggests that the time and stress of commuting affects the whole family’s eating patterns.

The study highlights that commuting time acts as a barrier that prevents income from improving diet quality. This is important because it shows that simply earning more money isn’t enough to guarantee healthy eating if you have a long commute. The effect on children’s diets is particularly significant because it suggests that commuting affects family health across generations.

Previous research has shown that long commutes increase stress and harm overall health. This study adds new evidence by showing that one specific way commutes harm health is through diet. It supports the idea that commuting is a significant lifestyle factor that affects health behaviors, not just through stress but through practical limitations on time and energy for food preparation.

The study shows connections between commuting time and diet quality, but it cannot prove that commuting directly causes poor eating. Other factors not measured in the study could explain both long commutes and poor diets. The research was conducted in China, so the results may not apply exactly the same way in other countries. The sample size wasn’t clearly reported, which makes it harder to know how reliable the findings are. Additionally, the study is based on survey data where people report what they eat, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

The Bottom Line

If you have a long commute, try to plan and prepare healthy meals in advance when you have more time and energy. Focus on including the foods mentioned in the study—fish, seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk, and nuts—even if you need to buy convenient versions. Consider whether your work situation allows for flexible scheduling or remote work options that could reduce commuting time. For policymakers and city planners, the study suggests that designing cities to reduce commuting distances could improve public health through better nutrition. Confidence level: Moderate—the study shows a clear connection, but more research is needed to understand all the reasons behind it.

This research is most relevant to people with long daily commutes, especially those over 45 years old who showed the strongest effects. Parents should pay attention because the study shows commuting affects children’s diets too. City planners and employers should care about these findings because they suggest that reducing commute times could improve worker and family health. People who are trying to improve their diet should be aware that commuting time might be a hidden obstacle they need to plan around.

Changes in diet quality don’t happen overnight. If you reduce your commute time or improve your meal planning despite a long commute, you might notice improvements in energy levels within a few weeks. However, meaningful changes in overall diet quality and health typically take several months to become apparent. The study doesn’t specify how quickly the negative effects of long commutes appear, so it’s unclear whether this is something that develops gradually over years or more quickly.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily commute time and the number of servings of healthy foods you eat (vegetables, fish, eggs, milk, nuts). Set a goal to eat at least one serving from each category on days with long commutes, and compare your patterns on shorter commute days.
  • Use the app to plan and prep meals on days when you have less commuting. Set reminders to pack healthy snacks before leaving for work. Create a shopping list focused on the foods mentioned in the study (fish, seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk, nuts) that are easy to prepare quickly on busy commute days.
  • Track weekly averages of commute time and diet quality scores. Look for patterns between commute length and food choices. If you make changes to reduce commuting time, monitor whether your diet quality improves over the following weeks and months. If you have children, track their diet quality separately to see if commute-related changes affect the whole family.

This study shows a connection between commuting time and diet quality but does not prove that commuting directly causes poor eating. The research was conducted in China and may not apply the same way in other countries. If you have concerns about your diet or health, please consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice. Individual results may vary based on many factors not measured in this study.