Changes in Cycling and Incidence of Overweight and Obesity among Danish Men and Women

PURPOSE: Overweight and obesity is associated with increased risk of several non-communicable diseases and is a growing public health issue. The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate incidence of overweight and obesity according to five-year cycling habits. The secondary purpose was to investigate incidence of remission from overweight and obesity according to five-year cycling habits.

METHODS: We analyzed 9014 men and 8661 women without chronic disease who between 1993 and 2003 completed two assessments approximately five years apart. At both assessments participants reported habitual cycling habits. Also, bodyweight and waist circumference was measured by a lab technician at baseline and self-assessed at second examination. We computed multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for development of and remission from abdominal and general overweight and obesity, according to five-year cycling habits.

RESULTS: Continued cycling was associated with lower odds for incidence of abdominal (men:>102 cm, women:>88 cm) and incidence of general (BMI≥30 kg/m) obesity; compared to no cycling, ORs (95% CIs) were 0.82 (0.74,0.91) and 0.74 (0.60,0.92) for abdominal and general obesity, respectively. Also, those who initiated cycling had lower odds for incidence of abdominal obesity; OR (95% CI) was 0.85 (0.73,1.00) relative to no cycling. Although we found no evidence of remission from abdominal and general overweight and obesity according to five-year cycling habits, those who continued cycling had significantly larger decreases in waist circumference relative to non-cyclists (β-coefficient (95% CI): -0,95 cm (-1,56 cm,-0,33 cm).

CONCLUSION: Continued cycling compared to no cycling was associated with lower odds for abdominal and general obesity. Also, late-in-life initiation of cycling was associated with lower odds for abdominal obesity, relative to no cycling.