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Get cycling to fight obesity, urges Sir Chris Whitty as he applauds “imaginative” active travel schemes during pandemic

“The idea that the UK is a country you can't actually do cycling is clearly incorrect,” says England’s chief medical officer...

Sir Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical officer for England, has urged people to get cycling to fight obesity, saying that “the idea that the UK is a country you can't actually do cycling is clearly incorrect.”

He also applauded what he described as the “imaginative” ways in which local authorities throughout the country sought to encourage active travel during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, reports Mail Online.

Speaking yesterday at the annual conference of the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Public Health, Whitty, who became a household name through his appearances in government Covid-19 briefings on TV, said that levels of obesity had increased since the pandemic began.

According to data from NHS England, one in four children aged 10 were classified as obese during 2020, up from one in five the previous year, as were three in four adults.

Underlining that exercise is among the “most effective ways of improving health,” Whitty said that people should be encouraged to incorporate active travel, such as walking or cycling to work, into their daily lives to help combat obesity.

“I think there's often a feeling that it's going to be very hard work to get people to, for example, take up cycling,” he said.

“But if you went back to the ’50s and ’60s there were extremely high rates of people cycling for work as well as recreationally across the country.”

He said that data from the Department for Transport showed that in 2019, people in England cycled a combined total of 5 billion kilometres – less than a quarter of the 24 billion kilometres collectively ridden in 1949.

Whitty said that the data from 70 years ago demonstrated that “the idea that the UK is a country you can't actually do cycling is clearly incorrect.”

Speaking about the increase in levels of obesity during the pandemic, he said that some aspects of public health have “trodden water or gone backwards over the last two year and we do need to quite seriously address them.”

He said: “One of the things that is the most effective ways of improving health – whether it's cardiovascular, cancer or mental health – is physical exercise.

“And active transport is a particularly important way to do this because it builds it into people's normal routines of daily life, rather than being seen as something that is separate.”

“What happened during the Covid crisis is that we saw many local authorities being extremely imaginative in the way that they made it easier for people to walk and cycle to work, to shops as well as recreationally – largely as a way of trying to get people off public transport where they could pass on or acquire Covid,” Whitty added.

“But what this demonstrates is what can be done and there's a lot that could be done in every area of the country.”

The role cycling can play in combatting obesity is well documented, with Chris Boardman, now the interim head of Active Travel England, having previously said: "Cycling is the miracle cure we discovered years ago.

"It treats obesity, a hundred inactivity-related diseases, air pollution and mental ill-health, and it helps the young and the elderly stay mobile.

“From HSBC UK-British Cycling research, we know that 14 million of us would like to cycle more often. So let’s make space on our roads and streets and give more people the chance to choose cycling.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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21 comments

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Eton Rifle | 2 years ago
1 like

Cycling was secondary in my losing just over 10kg so far. Diet was the most important factor.

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RoryLydiate | 2 years ago
3 likes

Maybe that's why Daily Mail readers love him so much.

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eburtthebike | 2 years ago
8 likes

For all those people doubting the efficacy of cycling as a weight reducing measure:

"The role cycling can play in combatting obesity is well documented, with Chris Boardman, now the interim head of Active Travel England, having previously said: "Cycling is the miracle cure we discovered years ago."

And I recall the statement by NICE about how achieiving the government's cycling targets was the best way of tackling the obesity crisis.

But to be fair, this is another failure by the media, which is obsessed by food and totally refuses to acknowledge the role of exercise, especially active travel, in improving health and controlling weight.  For example, there was a massive push by Eton-educated chef Henry Dimbleby (Eton, food and a Dimbleby, the BBC's producers' excitement was trickling down their legs) which was heavily covered by the media.   He stated categorically many times that it was impossible to lose weight by exercising, which despite being untrue and disproved, was never challenged.

There is no doubt that exercise is at least as important as diet, but the UK media focusses 99% on food.

EDIT; A quick search found many studies that confirmed cycling reduces weight:

"Daily travel by bike leads to the lowest BMI, according to a study of seven European cities, suggesting cities should promote active commutes."  https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/187087/promoting-cycling-cities-tackle-o...

‘Cycling is our best hope against obesity’  https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-is-our-best-hope-...

And last but not least "Make cycling a part of daily life to combat obesity urges NICE"  https://road.cc/content/news/146012-make-cycling-part-daily-life-combat-...

2nd EDIT: just googled to find out how much coverage this story got, and it made the Mail, the Telegraph, but not much more, I can't find any trace of it being reported by the broadcast media, which is a bit odd, given their hundreds of segments about obesity and diet and Sir Chris Whitty himself.  But they definitely aren't biased against cycling.*

 

 

*Not necessarily ironic, just 100% Fe.

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Sriracha | 2 years ago
6 likes

I didn't think cycling was especially good at reducing obesity. I am sure it's good for your overall health, and so is reducing excess weight good for your overall health. But I thought that to lose weight you would be unwise to rely primarily on cycling.

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hawkinspeter replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
5 likes

Sriracha wrote:

I didn't think cycling was especially good at reducing obesity. I am sure it's good for your overall health, and so is reducing excess weight good for your overall health. But I thought that to lose weight you would be unwise to rely primarily on cycling.

It can certainly help by increasing muscle mass and speeding up your metabolism, but yes exercise is for increasing health and diet/portion size is for controlling weight.

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Rendel Harris replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
7 likes

In my experience that's true, there just isn't a substitute for cutting down on calories, sadly. However, cycling is a brilliant secondary weight loss tool, not because of the amount of calories burned (after all it takes nearly 11 hours at 200 W to burn 1 kg of fat, and that's assuming one doesn't add any extra fuel for riding) but because as one starts to chuck the excess baggage climbing gets easier, you can go further and faster for the same effort, and (it probably shouldn't matter but it does) you start to look pretty good in cycling gear, and once you've got a taste for those things you really want to keep them and get more of them.

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IanMSpencer replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
6 likes

It depends, I think is the sensible answer. 

Cycling over a reasonable distances is a really good excercise - outdoors, good for wellbeing, you do a low impact workout with intervals (hills and stops and starts).

I eat a mega-amount of calories - 4 sausages and a pile of mash awaits me for evening meal, plus banana and ice cream, I've had a couple of pints this afternoon (though not a consistent drinker) a nice steak sandwich because we missed the bacon butty cut off. Where are all those calories going?

OK, Whitty probably isn't thinking of a 50 mile ride, but basically using your body will use calories, and is part of balancing excess intake.

If you then get the cycling bug, you will soon shed weight without trying.

The other part of the formula though is getting rid of sugary and/or refined foods - ditch the Pringles - we have a decent snack of roasted monkey nuts (had the award from Sainsbury's for being the biggest buyer last year!), we do not stint on food, we just stay slim and healthy.

Trying to overcome the body's hunger signals is hard, so why not put those calories to use and enjoy eating enthusiastically?

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Sriracha replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
3 likes
IanMSpencer wrote:

Trying to overcome the body's hunger signals is hard, so why not put those calories to use and enjoy eating enthusiastically?

You've sort of explained my point there. Unless you do move the set point on your hunger signals (which is hard, like you say, and cycling does not do this for you) then you will, as you imply, simply compensate for the additional calorie burn by eating more enthusiastically, such that you maintain the status quo. Homeostasis. Your cardiovascular health will doubtless improve, but your weight?

I guess it's like trying to cool a heated room by opening the window to let some heat out. The heating system compensates to keep the room at the original temperature. To cool the room you have to move the dial on the thermostat.

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IanMSpencer replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
4 likes

My wife has lost weight by eating more and exercising more.

My personal theory is that, combined with a sensible mix of food, which is solid wholesome food, not faddy diet and low fat high sugar commercial weight control type products, butter, eggs, meat, potatoes, much like is ready 30 years ago you eat a satisfying meal. You then respond to that by storing the calories or using them. My wife doesn't cycle but she does walk 40+ miles a week. That doesn't mean our appetites get bigger as we are satisfied after a meal then don't snack, just an occasional limited quantity of monkey nuts some evenings.

She eats more than she used to and weighs less. The only significant restriction we have is that we've cut down on alcohol. Not tea-total by a long shot, but no longer comfort drinking on a regular basis.

I don't think appetite necessarily matches energy usage.

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wtjs replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
4 likes

If you then get the cycling bug, you will soon shed weight without trying

Well, we're all different but it requires quite a bit of trying by me! What really does it is epic long days with limited supplies because you're camping on the Pennine Bridleway- if you're really knackered, you may not even be up to eating much when you stop

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andystow replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
2 likes

I think it varies by person. After being at the same weight for decades, I lost about 16 lb in a bit over two years when I started cycling regularly, from 158 lb to 142 lb (72 kg to 64 kg.) I did not eat less. If anything, I ate more as I stopped my practice of skipping either breakfast or lunch (usually lunch), which I'd started doing as I often wasn't really hungry for dinner.

The loss was all from the little body fat I had. In the eight years since I've now packed on muscle up to 162 lb (73.5 kg) but to this day I have to consiously eat more than I care to. I love food, love beer, but I will lose weight with the amount of exercise I do unless I eat to feeling quite full at least two of my meals. I know, many people would love my "problem."

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Rendel Harris replied to andystow | 2 years ago
7 likes

andystow wrote:

I know, many people would love my "problem."

I'm trying so hard not to use the word "bastard" but...

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vthejk replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
0 likes

I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer, as is the case with most body-related stuff. My anecdata tells me that I weigh less now but feel better (present routine - daily 50k+ round trip commutes, training for audaxes and ultras, 6 meals a day) than three years ago, when I weighed significantly more and was more 'top heavy' muscular (working as a chef, long, tiring, heavy muscular work, plenty of food but more spread out and bigger meals). I'm sure a dietitian might say that calorie deficit causes weight loss and calorie surplus causes weight gain; I suspect there is a bit more nuance than that.

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Jimnm replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
3 likes

Yes you're absolutely correct. Exercise is essential, however to lose weight you have to control what you put into your pie hole. That's a pretty hard thing to do, due to a life time of filling it with anything and everything. It's hard to discipline yourself .when you get the hunger pangs. 😊

 

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ktache replied to Jimnm | 2 years ago
6 likes

As I understand it, the body gets very used to the weight it is at, and will try and maintain it, with feelings of hunger and slowing down energy usage if it thinks you are starving. Cycling regularly, and especially commuting, can be part of a lifestyle change, along with eating healthily that can eventually lead to a healthier weight, but better doing it slowly.

Fast weight loss is very rarely effective in the long term especially without lifestyle changes as the bodies reaction means putting weight back on, often leading to even more weight than before.

The diet industry is a massive money making scheme that relies on repeat customers.

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Simon E replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
4 likes

Sriracha wrote:

I didn't think cycling was especially good at reducing obesity.

It seemed to work for Gary Brennan, the 39 stone cyclist. On a far smaller scale it worked for me - lost 7lb within 6 weeks when I switched to cycle commuting the 5 miles to work without even trying. By the end of the year I was another 5lb lighter.

It's easier if you avoid processed crap (particularly meat-based), alcohol and fried food but you don't have to live like a monk.

I think there is a point at which the body begins to adapt and doesn't burn the fat as readily for a given amount of exercise but also behaviour can prevent continued weight loss. There are multiple factors but exercise such as cycling can be a big part of the solution, and the big bonus is that it can be done on your commute, a stress-relieving evening pedal or a weekend social ride. It's more effective than walking (and you can also see more places, have more options) and more enjoyable than running.

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Steve K | 2 years ago
12 likes

What happened to not feeding the troll?

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the little onion | 2 years ago
8 likes

In the great Venn Diagramm of life, I wonder what overlap there is between people who disagree with Whitty on cycling, and those who think he over-stated the dangers of COVID-19

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Rendel Harris replied to the little onion | 2 years ago
14 likes

Roughed it out for you...

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HoarseMann | 2 years ago
5 likes

Let's hope he still has the ear of the government.

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lonpfrb replied to HoarseMann | 2 years ago
1 like
HoarseMann wrote:

Let's hope he still has the ear of the government.

Prof. Whitty and Health Minister Javid need to go down Whitehall to the Department of Digital Culture and Media to get hate speech against two wheel transport treated like Racism, Diversity and Inclusion in the mainstream and social media.

It's only when the attitude of all road users changes that it will be safe for everyone to get the physical and mental health benefits of traveling on two wheels. #VisionZero

Environmental benefits a bonus towards Carbon neutral. So good for all in many aspects.

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