The Health Benefits of Walking

Abstract

Walking offers a simple approach to exercise compared with other activities that require equipment or membership in a gym. People have easy access to walking and can exercise while they enjoy the great outdoors or—if the weather does not permit this—use a treadmill or walk in the mall. A little willingness and determination to focus one’s steps as a means to exercise can help promote health and prevent disease. There are many potential health benefits of walking, including: strengthening muscles; enhancing cardiovascular fitness; controlling weight; improving regulation of lipids, insulin, and glucose; increasing bone density; and improving one’s psychological state. Of course, the frequency and intensity of exercise walking can increase or decrease the likelihood of these health gains, with more-vigorous walking of longer duration increasing the likelihood of such gains and less-vigorous walking of shorter duration decreasing the likelihood of these gains.