Cycling, Obesity and Risk Perception

Most people are very bad at accessing risk. Take cycling for example, there is a perception that cycling is a very dangerous activity, while sitting on a couch watching TV and eating crisps is perceived to be safe. A new study from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence a branch of the National Health Service in the UK puts these two activities into context.

Live long and prosper

It says "walking and cycling should become the norm for short journeys and should be encouraged throughout local communities”. That “regular physical activity is crucial to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It can help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes by up to 50%, and is also important for good mental health”. And that “two-thirds (61%) of men and nearly three-quarters (71%) of women aged 16 and over are not physically active enough”.

The situation is much the same in Ireland, a study conducted by University College Cork estimated that obesity is costing Ireland, north and south about 1.6 billion euros a year. According to the Irish Department of Health in any year “about 2,000 premature deaths in Ireland will be attributed to obesity and the numbers are growing relentlessly”.

One of the first question the authors of the UK report were asked at a press conference where they released their report was “had they taken all the perils of cycling into account”. Those of us who cycle are aware of the risks, which are very small, but for some reason there is an unshakable public perception that cycling is a very high risk activity.

This is very baffling as the statistics do not sustain it, in 2010 five cyclists were killed in the Irish Republic, as opposed to 2000 deaths from obesity. The figures are clear a sedentary lifestyle is much more dangerous than cycling a bicycle on Irish roads. We are killing ourselves with kindness.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Summary of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Report

Ireland’s Obesity Epidemic from the Irish Independent

Department of Health Report on Obesity