Health Benefits of Cycling
Cycling has never been more important for public health: the Government’s Foresight panel predicted that Britain will become a mainly obese nation by 2050, unless there are significant changes in nutrition and physical activity.
Cycling offers enormous potential to help improve public health. The main advantage cycling has over other forms of exercise is the way it can become part of everyday activity, rather than people having to find additional time for exercise.
One of the key studies of cycling has found that people who cycle to work experienced a 39% lower rate of all-cause mortality compared to those who did not – even after adjustment for other risk factors, including leisure time physical activity.
Despite this strong evidence, it appears that the health benefits of cycling are still undervalued in some parts of the health sector. This is why we have published a report which brings together for the first time much of the existing research into the various health benefits of cycling.
‘Cycling and Health - What’s the evidence?’ is an essential reference guide for health practitioners, providing a solid evidence-base for action.
Click here to download the full report (pdf)
Click here to download the summary leaflet (pdf)
Click here to download a short journal article based on the report
Hard copies of the report are available: call the Cycling England press office on 020 7260 2782.
