A little biking may help premenopausal women keep off the pounds

Exercises that help obese and menopausal women keep light on their feet and well within their weight range include walking, swimming and jogging. However, a new study has suggested that just minutes of cycling could go a long way in keeping the body trim and fit.

According to Harvard Public health Clinic research fellow, Anne C. Lusk, PhD, healthy people can benefit from biking. However, overweight women going through menopause are 45% more likely to keep the pounds off by biking two or three hours a week, and they also stand a chance to stay within 5 percent of their body weight over time. Overweight women who biked for 30 extra minutes daily gained 7 less pounds during the course of this study.

In studies carried out between 1989 and 2005, it has been noticed the average weight gain over time is about 20 pounds and the level of activity among menopausal women has drastically reduced. Many say that they keep active and fit by walking, but further studies show that walking is futile unless the walk is at speeds over 3 miles per hour.

Biking is considered joint-friendly and it works out almost every muscle in the body. The United States has sidewalks and pavements that give both pedestrians and bikers ample space to keep fit and active. In as much as biking is encouraged, it is also said that those who have been inactive for sometime can begin with walking as a way to stay active as it is cheaper than cycling.