Bicycle Network Victoria: Prevention

Get on your bike – don’t end up like Santa!

Bicycle Network has released a Christmas calorie-burning tool to give Christmas revellers a clear indication of how much exercise they will need to complete to avoid ending up with a bulging post-Christmas waistline.

Bicycle Network’s Festive Feasting Calorie Counter indicated that for every slice of Christmas cake eaten you will need to ride for 45 minutes, every shortbread biscuit 15 minutes and 30 seconds, every slice of pavlova 29 minutes and every can of beer 14 minutes.

Bicycle Network CEO Harry Barber said typical Australian Christmas lunches or dinners could add many thousands of extra, unwanted, calories to the people’s diets and expose them to preventable diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

“Unless the annual Christmas feasting is balanced with more exercise people you won’t just end up feeling flat the next day, you might end up risking your long-term health" Mr Barber

“The answer is simple and easy – get on your bike!”

Diabetes Australia highlights that 60 percent of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through regular physical activity and making healthy food choices.

Sydney University Professor Adrian Bauman said regular moderate-intensity activity, like cycling, could help reduce the likelihood of individuals developing type 2 diabetes.

“Studies have shown a strong link between cycling and decreased blood sugar and cholesterol levels, both strong contributors to type 2 diabetes,” Professor Bauman said.

“In fact, cycling is particularly useful, as it is mostly ‘moderate-vigorous’ intensity, and therefore confers even more diabetes and chronic disease protection than only moderate intensity activities such as walking.”

Bicycle Network’s Festive Feasting Calorie Counter**

** These figures my vary slightly from person to person and are based on an average female weighing 70kg.