Can Bengaluru traffic make you healthier? A commuter’s viral story sparks debate

A Reddit post by a Bengaluru professional claims the city’s traffic pushed him into healthier habits, triggering an online debate on work-from-home, commuting stress and urban burnout.

Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion has long been blamed for stress, fatigue and declining health. However, a recent post by a city resident has offered an unexpected perspective, suggesting that traffic indirectly helped him adopt a healthier lifestyle.

In a detailed post shared on Reddit, the man spoke about his daily commute from Whitefield to Koramangala, which earlier took close to 90 minutes one way. He said the long travel hours left him exhausted, stressed and confined to his desk, with no time or energy to exercise. He admitted that his routine included eating meals at his workstation and living a largely sedentary life.

According to the post, the turning point came when he stopped trying to battle the commute. Instead of pushing through the daily travel, he opted to work from home three days a week. He also joined a gym close to his residence and started working out early in the morning. In addition, he changed his eating habits by walking to nearby restaurants rather than relying on food delivery apps.

While traffic conditions in the city remained unchanged, the man said his health saw a visible improvement. He claimed his resting heart rate dropped from 82 to 64, and he lost nearly eight kilograms without making any drastic effort to lose weight. Reflecting on the change, he wrote that traffic did not improve, but his response to it did.

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The post gained wide attention online, with many users sharing similar experiences. One user recalled how using public buses for a year, with a 45-minute commute involving multiple stops, made them feel healthier and more relaxed.

However, not everyone agreed with the original claim. Some users argued that traffic was not responsible for the health benefits, pointing instead to flexible work arrangements. One comment stated that work-from-home, not traffic, created the time and space for exercise and better habits. Others said the discussion highlighted a deeper issue of work culture, long commutes and urban burnout in large cities like Bengaluru.

The conversation eventually widened into a broader debate on whether flexible work options could be the key to healthier urban living.