French researchers investigated this question in a study. They discovered that there are differences between the sexes.
Cycling or walking: which is better for losing weight?
12,776 adult men and women took part study part. The participants’ height, weight, waist circumference and body fat content were very different. Everyone told the researchers how often they had ridden a bike or gone for a walk in the past month.
Activities on the way to work as well as during leisure time were recorded. Leisure time included both hobbies and necessary errands.
That’s why women should go for walks – but men shouldn’t
The result of the study: For women, walking for a total of more than 2.5 hours per week was associated with lower weight (-1.8 kg), waist circumference (-1.7 cm) and body fat percentage (-1.1%) . But the men did not benefit from this.
When cycling, however, a positive effect was found for both genders. Those who cycled for more than 1.5 hours a week had a lower body weight (men: -4.3 kg / women: -1.4 kg), a reduced waist circumference (men: -4.4 cm / women: – 1.2 cm) and a reduced body fat content (men: -2.5% / women: -1.9%).
The results did not change even when the researchers also took into account the effect of physical activity spent in the household.
Further studies are necessary for a final result
Based on the results, the researchers come to the conclusion that it could make sense to use different measures to prevent and treat obesity in men and women.
In their study, the researchers were unable to determine why women benefit from both walking and cycling, while for men only cycling has positive effects.
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