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The Way We Walk for Health
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Posted on: 11/11/2003
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Walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise. Walking requires no gym membership or fancy equipment. And almost anyone can walk--you don't need to be an athlete to enjoy a daily stroll through the neighborhood.
So how many Americans are regular walkers? These researchers did a national telephone survey to find out. They made sure to include people who live in low-income areas. People were put into three groups. The first group walked five times a week, 30 minutes at a time. The second group walked for exercise, but not that often. The third group never walked for exercise.
The researchers found some interesting results. Many of the findings were no surprise:
About 34 percent of people were regular walkers. About 46 percent were occasional walkers. Nearly 21 percent never walked for exercise.
People over 65 were most likely to never walk.
Most regular walkers were between the ages of 30 and 45.
About 36 percent of regular walkers were white. Nearly 32 percent were black, and the rest were from other ethnic groups.
Higher education levels were related to higher rates of walking. So were higher income levels.
Regular walkers tended to live in the suburbs. Rural residents were least likely to be walkers.
Occasional walkers and those who never walked had less confidence in their ability to exercise. They reported having too little time or energy to walk. They also had less social support.
The researchers also asked questions about where people walked. Walkers used neighborhood streets, parks, shopping malls, and treadmills. Different walking areas were linked to different age groups and locations. For example, younger walkers were more likely to use parks. People who never walked often reported problems such as poor lighting or lack of sidewalks in their neighborhoods.
This type of information can help in planning programs to get people walking. Based on this survey, the authors suggest that measures such as improving walking areas and encouraging short bouts of walking could encourage to people to get walking.
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References:
Amy A. Eyler, et al. The Epidemiology of Walking for Physical Activity in the United States. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. September 2003. Vol. 35. No. 9. Pp. 1529-1536.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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