The Panatta Sport Research Centre, a division of the Italian fitness supplier, Panatta Sport, has launched a three-month study into children’s group cycling.

Working with a hospital and a medical research centre in Rome, the research will involve 30 overweight children aged between four and 12 years old.

The study will assess the effects of group cycling mixed with team games on the children’s weight and also monitor which mix of activities motivate the children most.

Working out three times a week, the children will use Panatta Sport Yukari bikes and take part in team games. Exercises will be gradually increased from 20 to 45 minutes of cycling and from 40 to 60 minutes of games.

“Children usually get bored on a stationary bike, dropping out after the first few lessons.” says Panatta Sport’s Ruben Tomassoni.

“The aim of this research is to find a new way of training children with bikes, that benefits their health, but is also fun.”

Special attention will be paid to the play content of the lesson to keep the children’s attention and motivation. The bike will be treated as a vehicle by which they can travel to a variety of places, such as forests, rivers, mountains and caves, to discover new things and have adventures.