People who get to work on foot or by bicycle, increase the chances of avoiding the development of cardiovascular diseases, say US researchers from the University of North Carolina.

Scientists have conducted a study in which they tried to find out the influence of the way people get to work. The experiment involved 2364 people working outside the home. On medical examinations conducted in 2005 and 2006, all participants in the study detailed their route to work. The route information included the length of the road in minutes and miles, the percentage of journey done by car, public transport, on foot or by bike. The study was published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

It turned out that 16.7% of the study participants got to work on foot or by bicycle. All of them looked thinner and more fit than the rest of the participants. Those who preferred bicycles or their own legs preferred less obesity, triglycerides were normal, and the blood pressure and insulin levels were also better than the rest.

Scientists believe that the state should pursue a policy of supporting people who prefer to walk around the city on foot or by bicycle.

An increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists will bring a double benefit to the country: strengthening the health of the nation and reducing emissions of harmful exhaust gases. Support for the desire to walk in the form of changes in the arrangement of streets and socio-cultural factors has proven itself in the promotion of an active lifestyle. To identify other potential benefits of walking on work, further research is needed.

Medicinform. Net Keywords:.