Fighting Obesity through Cycling

Obesity rates are increasing every day in our country and in many other developed nations around the world. Anne Lusk is a  Nutrition Research Assistant at Harvard’s School of Public Health and has published a paper revealing the ways that bicycling and walking contribute to the reduction of obesity in women while maintaining a healthy weight overall.

Last year in over half of US states, obesity rates increased. The District of Colombia was the only state to show a decrease in obesity rates and two thirds of the states have obesity rates over 25%. In this study Lusk looked at the change in weight in over 18,000 people being studied from 1989-2005. Relating to women, on average our gals in the US gain about 20 pounds every 16 years. Whoa!

Looking deeper into the data Ms. Lusk found that women who briskly walked or cycled every day for 30 minutes controlled their weight much easier than women who engaged in slower walking. She and her colleagues also found that even 5 minutes of cycling per day was even better than the slow walking alternative. Additionally, women who walked briskly or cycled for 4 hours or more per week had lower odds of gaining more than 5% body weight.

This telling information coupled with the need for each of us to lessen our environmental footprint has some very exciting implications and should certainly be used as a spring board to push the country in a new direction. If we as individuals learn to see this as an opportunity, in no time at all the benefits would be palpable~less air pollution and road congestion + a healthier population!

Harvard’s School of Public Health was so impressed by Lusk’s study that they allowed her team to pursue the creation of legislation in the next Transportation Reauthorization Bill to require putting at least 10 miles of bicycle tracks in every U.S. State. Though a small step, the new tracks that could be mandated in every state would be a fantastic first step for incorporating biking into your daily commute.

Regular exercise provided by the bicycle strengthens the immune system and increases production of your “feel good” hormones, improves muscle mass and burns calories. So, tip your hat to all those bikers out there and get on your bicycle, have fun, feel good and make the world a better place!