This news story popped up today:
New research illustrates the health benefits of regular biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, school or shopping. Researchers found a link between "active transportation" and less obesity in 17 industrialized countries across Europe, North America and Australia. "Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates," authors David Bassett of the University of Tennessee and John Pucher of Rutgers University conclude. Americans, with the highest rate of obesity, were the least likely to walk, cycle or take mass transit, according to the study in a recent issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. The study relied on each country's own travel and health data.
Only 12% use active transportation in the United States — 9% walk, 1% ride a bike and 2% take a bus or train — while a quarter to a third are obese, the study said.
By comparison, 67% of commuters in Latvia, 62% in Sweden and 52% in the Netherlands either walk, bike or use mass transit. Latvia's obesity rate is 14%, the Netherlands' is 11% and Sweden's is 9%.
New research illustrates the health benefits of regular biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, school or shopping. Researchers found a link between "active transportation" and less obesity in 17 industrialized countries across Europe, North America and Australia. "Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates," authors David Bassett of the University of Tennessee and John Pucher of Rutgers University conclude. Americans, with the highest rate of obesity, were the least likely to walk, cycle or take mass transit, according to the study in a recent issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. The study relied on each country's own travel and health data.
Only 12% use active transportation in the United States — 9% walk, 1% ride a bike and 2% take a bus or train — while a quarter to a third are obese, the study said.
By comparison, 67% of commuters in Latvia, 62% in Sweden and 52% in the Netherlands either walk, bike or use mass transit. Latvia's obesity rate is 14%, the Netherlands' is 11% and Sweden's is 9%.
This seems to be common sense... but someone has to "prove" every little fact when it is used to create policy, or the opposition will cry, "not true!"
