Abstract
Walking as a form of physical activity has immense health benefits, but it also has economic benefits. Walking is a very efficient activity that prevents certain diseases and enables better quality of life of people who already have some disease.A considerable contribution of walking is detected in cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and chronic pulmonary diseases.The aim of this study was to make a health and economic assessment of the benefits of walking in the Republic of North Macedonia by using the Health and Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT).Materials and methods:Health Economic Assessment Tool is a relatively new tool, developed by WHO experts whose expertise is in the field of Public health and is able to calculate the health effects of regular walking and/or cycling. This study was based on using this tool for walking mode for the first time in the Republic of North Macedonia in a population group of 191 participants between the age of 20 to 73 years, with the average age of 35 years.Results:Besides the aforementioned health benefits, HEAT calculates the economic benefits of walking. The tool applied to 191 participants resulted in a total economic value of 108 808.8€ for one yearas well as reduction in mortality rate. Conclusion: We found that less than one fifth of our assessed population spends time in walking according to the WHO, CDC and AHA recommendations. The rest of them, more than four fifths are not following these recommendations. Our assessed population was relatively young, the average age being 35 years old, and the population was healthy, but still the results from this survey were not satisfying.
Highlights
Walking is the oldest and simplest form of engaging the muscle apparatus
Physical activity does not economically encumber people, and having in mind that preventive health programs are far more costeffective than the curative ones, we can conclude that physical activity is primarily significant in prevention of health issues, sustaining and improving health of the entire population[1]
The WHO Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior provide evidence-based public health recommendations for children, adolescents, adults and older adults on the amount of physical activity required to offer significant health benefits and mitigate health risks[2]
Summary
Walking is the oldest and simplest form of engaging the muscle apparatus. nowadays walking is not appreciated as gym training (weight lifting, pilates, crossfit etc.), it is still the safest form of physical activity, since walking accidents happen rather rarely as opposed to accidents in gym training.Overthe last century the working environment has become more and more digitalized with little physical loading and the working processes have been concentrated in offices and cubicles. Walking is the oldest and simplest form of engaging the muscle apparatus. Nowadays walking is not appreciated as gym training (weight lifting, pilates, crossfit etc.), it is still the safest form of physical activity, since walking accidents happen rather rarely as opposed to accidents in gym training. Physical activity does not economically encumber people, and having in mind that preventive health programs are far more costeffective than the curative ones, we can conclude that physical activity is primarily significant in prevention of health issues, sustaining and improving health of the entire population[1]. The WHO Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior provide evidence-based public health recommendations for children, adolescents, adults and older adults on the amount of physical activity (frequency, intensity and duration) required to offer significant health benefits and mitigate health risks[2]
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