Benefits & evidence: health

Doctors strongly recommend cycling (Wardlaw) and should be promoted . All the public health physicians in Birmingham have signed up to the Birmingham Cycling and Walking Strategy .

obesity is due to lack of exercise and too many calories

Here are some examples related to eye disease. Concerning diabetes, we know that exercise both prevents type 2 diabetes (PubMed PubMed PubMed ) prevents complications in those who are diabetic (UKPDS) . Concerning macular degeneration, which causes a half of all blindness in the UK, we know this condition is linked to high blood pressure PubMed , so logically exercise will prevent or delay this. Itis certainly linked to weight PubMed. Exercise will prevent cataracts PubMed and retinal vein occlusions PubMed.

Concerning other conditions, we know exercise prevents strokes, heart, mental illness, and many other conditions PubMed PubMed PubMed , even arthrititis PubMed . These papers indicate disease rates are halved with regular exercise.

We know exercise affects our behaviour and the risks we take smoking etc PubMed PubMed PubMed PubMed even sexual behaviour PubMed . This research shows violent and risk taking behaviour is reduced with regular exercise, so will the consequences such as eye injuries PubMed PubMed and accidents WHO .

So how much exercise will we need..30-120 minutes each day PubMed PubMed US recommendations (PDF) . We know we take too little PubMed Even walking is very helpful PubMed . Changes must be made in the way we live at a local level (worth reading in full).

Why slow speeds

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Cycling Cities

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