Cycling to work can ‘reduce risk of dying young’
CYCLING to work can cut reduce the risk of premature death by nearly 40 per cent, a study has found.
Research by the University of Glasgow has revealed that cycling to work can reduce the risk of developing cancer and heart disease by almost half.
The findings, published in the the BMJ, also found that walking to work can have important health benefits.
Taking the bike to work is associated with 45 per cent lower risk of developing cancer and a 46 per cent lower risk of heart disease, compared to a non-active commute.
Commuters who cycle to work have a 41 per cent lower risk of dying young, according to the research.
People who walk to work have 27 per cent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 36 per cent lower risk of dying from cardio- vascular disease, but not cancer or premature death overall.
More than 260,000 people were analysed as part of the research and were asked questions about their usual mode of commuting to work.
The people were then followed up for five years with any cases of cancer, heart attacks and deaths in that period assessed.
The University of Glasgow researchers believe their findings indicate that policies designed to make it easier for people to commute by bike could majorly impact public health.
Dr Jason Gill, of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, said: “Cycling all or part of the way to work was associated with substantially lower risk of adverse health outcomes.
“If these associations are causal, these findings suggest policies designed to make it easier for people to commute by bike may present major opportunities for public health improvement.”