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Summer's days might be decreasing, but is your waistline increasing? According to a study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), bicycle riding can help with weight management. Their study involving more than 18,000 pre-menopausal women, found those who biked regularly gained less weight.
Women who reported little or no cycling in the initial year of the study period, who increased their time on the bike by as little as five minutes per day, gained less weight at the end of the study than those who did not bike at all.
"Small daily increments in bicycling helped women control their weight. But the more time women spent bicycling, the better. And women with excess weight appeared to benefit the most," says Rania Mekary, HSPH research associate.
In the United States, 66 percent of adults are overweight or obese, 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, and 34 percent of children and adolescents are at risk of becoming overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that every adult accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week to prevent obesity and improve health.
So by all means, get on your bike and take a brisk ride while the days are still long: winter, sigh, is just around the next bend.
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