A new large-scale study published this week has found that regular cycling can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Carried out by the University of Southern Denmark, the study looked at 24,623 men and 27,890 women from Denmark age 50 to 65.
Participants were asked to self-report their cycling habits, including how much they cycled to and from work and how much they cycled just for fun.
The data was then compared with the incidence of type 2 diabetes measured in the Danish National Diabetes Registry.
The results showed that those who cycled regularly were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and the more they cycled each week, the lower the risk was.
The team also found that after re-assessing participants' cycling habits during the five-year follow-up, those who took up habitual cycling during this period, and therefore at a later age, still benefited from a 20% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-cyclists, with lead author of the study Dr. Martin Rasmussen commenting that, "We find it especially interesting that those who started cycling had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, given that the study population were men and women of middle and old age. This emphasizes that even when entering elderly age, it is not too late to take up cycling to lower one's risk of chronic disease."
Although the authors took into account various other lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol and smoking habits, and physical activity outside of cycling, self-reporting can lead to inaccuracies or missing data, and additional factors not taken into account may also affect the results.
However cycling is already known for its many health benefits, including improved cardiovascular fitness, a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a lower risk of obesity, and even better sleep, with the findings only adding to the list of health benefits that cycling offers, even later in life.
The results also provide further evidence and support for the development of programs to encourage cycling, with Dr. Rasmussen also adding, "Because cycling can be included in everyday activities, it may be appealing to a large part of the population. This includes people who due to lack of time, would not otherwise have the resources to engage in physical activity."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Thu Jul 14 2016
A new study found that regular cycling can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Siapa menang? Siapa kalah? Tegakkan demokrasi
Ridauddin Daud, Wartawan Astro AWANI
Keputusan tidak rasmi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Keputusan tidak rasmi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Pertukaran, bayaran balik tiket Piala Sumbangsih bermula esok hingga Selasa
Pertukaran dan bayaran balik tiket perlawanan pembukaan Liga Super Malaysia dan Piala Sumbangsih antara JDT dan Selangor FC yang dibatalkan semalam boleh dibuat mulai esok hingga Selasa.
Pengundian awal, apa desas desus?
Hasimi Muhammad, Wartawan Astro AWANI
[TERKINI] Menang undi awal polis, tentera
Keputusan tidak rasmi yang dikongsikan oleh Setiausaha Agung UMNO, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki di Facebook menyaksikan Sock Tao menang dengan majoriti 436 undi.
Machado, Saddil mungkin terlepas aksi pertama Liga Super - Kim Swee
Dua pemain import Sabah FC iaitu Ramon Machado dan Saddil Ramdani mungkin terlepas aksi pertama Liga Super menentang Penang FC.
AWANI Borneo [11/05/2024] – Persempadanan semula kawasan DUN | Perginya ikon kebanggan Orang Ulu | Peruntukan RM7 juta
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Assim Hassan
#AWANIBorneo 11 Mei 2024
Sarawak pertimbang semak persempadanan semula kawasan DUN.
Pemimpin negara beri penghormatan terakhir kepada Mendiang Mutang Tagal.
Peruntukan RM7 juta bagi ubah wajah tamu desa di Sabah.
#AWANIBorneo 11 Mei 2024
Sarawak pertimbang semak persempadanan semula kawasan DUN.
Pemimpin negara beri penghormatan terakhir kepada Mendiang Mutang Tagal.
Peruntukan RM7 juta bagi ubah wajah tamu desa di Sabah.
Faizal Azumu nafi kenyataan tular isu calon PM
Bersatu menafikan kenyataan yang tular berhubung isu melibatkan perbincangan calon Perdana Menteri pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-16 (PRU16).
RM7 juta diperuntukkan naik taraf 38 tamu desa di Sabah - Ewon
Sebanyak RM7 juta diperuntukkan bagi menaik taraf 38 tapak tamu desa yang telah dikenal pasti di seluruh Sabah
KKDW peruntuk RM290 juta setahun untuk luar bandar Sabah
Peruntukan RM290 juta KKDW untuk kemudahan luar bandar Sabah adalah peruntukan tahunan kementerian itu bagi membantu penduiduk negeri itu.