Riding a bike is just as effective as fast walking, especially for women during menopause. In this way the ladies can keep from gaining weight, new research has revealed.

“Cycling is particularly useful for maintaining a healthy weight and weight loss of obese members of the gentler sex. Of course, women of normal weight, can benefit from cycling.  However, the greatest advantage can be realized by the ladies in overweight with menopausal concerns. The good news is that two-hour or three-hour pedaling on a weekly basis reduces the chances of gaining more than 5 percent of initial body weight by almost 50 percent, “said study author Anne C. Lusk, School of Medicine in Boston.

The researchers also found that slow walking does not help in controlling weight.

In addition to lose pounds and sculpt the muscles, regular driving can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, increase endurance of the body, affect the improvement of digestion and stress reduction … Feeling tired? Studies have shown that cycling increases energy levels by 20 percent.

The research results were published in the latest edition of Archives of Internal Medicine .