Taking the bus or train to work may be even healthier than walking, according to a new study published by the American Heart Association.

The study, which was conducted in Japan, found that compared to drivers, public transport riders were 44 per cent less likely to be overweight, 27 per cent less likely to have high blood pressure and 34 per cent less likely to have diabetes.

“Bus/train commuters had even lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight than the walkers or bikers,” according the findings presented at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions 2015 meeting.

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But, in a rather counterintuitive result, somewhat improved health benefits were also seen in comparison with walkers and bikers, researchers said.

They suggested that one explanation could be that commuters actually walked farther to and from the train or bus station than people who biked or walked to and from work.

“If it takes longer than 20 minutes one way to commute by walking or cycling, many people seem to take public transportation or a car in urban areas of Japan,” head study author Hisako Tsuji, director of the Moriguchi City Health Examination Centre in Osaka, Japan, said.