London, Jun 13 (IANS): A study has found that Indians who cycle or walk are less likely to be obese or overweight and have diabetes or high blood pressure.

These findings suggest that encouraging more people to use physically active modes of transport could reduce rates of important risk factors for many chronic diseases, say the researchers from Imperial College London and the Public Health Foundation of India.

Rates of diabetes and heart disease are projected to increase dramatically in India and other low and middle income countries over the next two decades.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine, analysed physical activity and health information collected from almost 4,000 participants in the Indian Migration Study.

"This study highlights that walking and cycling to work is not only good for the environment but also good for personal health," said Dr. Christopher Millett, of the School of Public Health at Imperial and the Public Health Foundation of India, who led the study, reports Science Daily.

"People can get the exercise they need by building physical activity into their travel to work, so they don't need to make extra time for the gym," said Millett.

"Getting more people to use active modes of travel should be integral to strategies to maintain healthy weight and prevent diabetes and heart disease in India. This should include improving the safety and convenience of walking and bicycling in Indian towns and cities, and also greater investment in public transport, since this travel generally involves walking to bus or train stops."