WASHINGTON (Dispatches)-Regular walking, even if not meeting the minimum recommended levels, is associated with lower mortality compared to inactivity, according to a new study.
The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, says that walking has the potential to significantly improve the public's health.
Investigators led by Alpa Patel, Ph.D., looked at data from nearly 140,000 participants in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. A small percentage (6-7%) in the study reported no moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity at baseline. Among the rest, about 95% reported some walking, and nearly half walked as their only form of moderate-vigorous physical activity.
After correcting for other risk factors, including smoking, obesity, and chronic conditions, the study found walking-only for less than 2 hours per week was associated with lower all-cause mortality compared to no activity. Meeting 1 to 2 times the minimum recommendation (2.5-5 hours/week) through walking-only was associated with 20% lower mortality risk. Results for those exceeding recommendations through walking-only were similar to those who met recommendations.
Walking-only was most strongly associated with respiratory disease mortality, with approximately 35% lower risk comparing more than 6 hours/week of walking to the least active group. Walking-only was also associated with about 20% less risk of cardiovascular disease mortality and with about 9 percent less risk of cancer mortality.
"Walking has been described as the 'perfect exercise' because it is simple, free, and convenient, doesn't require any special equipment or training, and can be done at any age," said Dr. Patel.