[Health effects of cycling to and from work].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to assess whether people could be motivated in a simple way to cycle regularly to and from work during one year, and to assess whether this could lead to any health-related physiological benefits.


METHODS
25 persons who cycled to and from work during one year were included in the study. Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and body mass index (BMI) were measured at baseline, after six months and after one year. Total-cholesterol (TC) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL) were measured at the start and the end of the project.


RESULTS
During the study VO 2max increased with 15.8 %; from 32.5 (8.1: SD) to 37.1 (7.6) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (p < 0.001). HDL-cholesterol increased with 15.3 %; from 1.31 (0.31) to 1.51 (0.40) mmol x l(-1) (p < 0.001). No changes were recorded for BMI. The numbers of cycling sessions were greatly reduced during the winter months because of poor cycling conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that cycling to and from work may positively affect physiological variables and thereby have a beneficial health effect.
Tjelta
Leif Inge
LI
Institutt for allmennlaererutdanning og spesialpedagogikk, Det humanistiske fakultet, Universitetet i Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway. leif.i.tjelta@uis.no
Kvåle
Odd Harald
OH
Dyrstad
Sindre M
SM
D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work