Walking to school avoids youth obesity

NEW YORK - Reuters

Teens who walk to school are less likely to be obese, says a new study.

Teens who play a couple of team sports and walk or bike to school are less likely to be overweight or obese, says a new study.

Researchers found that of more than 1,700 teens, those who played on at least two sports teams per year were 73 percent less likely to be overweight or obese than those who did not. Those who walked or biked to school four to five times per week were 67 percent less likely to have weight problems.

The findings, however, can’t prove those activities prevented the weight problems, or whether something else could explain the link.

Overall, the connection shouldn’t come as a surprise to most people, said Dr. William Stratbucker, a pediatrician at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Healthy Weight Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.