Benefits Of Walking
Why walk?
- Regular physical activity includes reducing the risk of:
- Type 2 diabetes by up to a 50%
- Early death by 30%
- Falls among older adults by up to 30%
- Depression by up to 30%
- Dementia by up to 30%
- Coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35%
- Walking can help to manage existing long term health conditions
- No special equipment is needed
- It’s safe even for people who are currently inactive and / or have a long-term health condition
Why walk in a group?
Local research at the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that walking in a group:
- Is a safe way of getting some physical activity
- Is better than using a pedometer
- Can help people walk further and faster (which helps you get fitter)
- Gives social support
How much physical activity should we be doing?
- Adults should try to be active daily and should do:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity every week
- Or a combination of both moderate and vigorous activity
and
- strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all the major muscles
Correct intensity for health benefits
- For walking to benefit your health it should be carried out at a moderate or vigorous intensity
- Moderate intensity physical activities will cause people to get warmer and breathe harder and their hearts to beat faster, but they should still be able to carry on a conversation
- Vigorous intensity physical activities will cause people to get warmer and breathe much harder and their hearts to beat rapidly, making it more difficult to carry on a conversation
The intensity recommended should be relative to the person’s current level of fitness. A slow walk to the shops may be a moderate intensity for one person, but low intensity for another.