Brisk walk is a great workout

People who regularly walked briskly for more than 30 minutes had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who engaged in regular sports or exercise. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Men and women who regularly walked briskly for more than 30 minutes had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who engaged in regular sports or exercise.
  • The research explains that although the UK government recommends that adults should do 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity every week, there is no guidance as to which activity is the most effective.

NEW RESEARCH SAYS that regular brisk walking is the best exercise for keeping weight down, according to the UK’s London School of Economics.

In the study, Do All Activities “Weigh” Equally? How Different Physical Activities Differ as Predictors of Weight, lead author Dr Grace Lordan of the LSE examined reported physical activity levels from the annual Health Survey for England from 1999 to 2012.

She focused on activities that increased heart rate and caused perspiring. Individuals reported on the number of periods they engaged in 30 minutes or more of walking at a fast or brisk pace; moderate-intensity sports or exercise and exercises; heavy housework; and heavy manual activities.

Dr Lordan then analysed nurse-collected data on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements. She found that men and women who regularly walked briskly for more than 30 minutes had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who engaged in regular sports or exercise.

The research explains that although the UK government recommends that adults should do 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity every week, there is no guidance as to which activity is the most effective.

It concludes: “The results thus provide an argument for a campaign to promote walking … Focus on physical activity is less controversial as it would not be subject to political lobbying as is the case for ‘fat’ tax and other policies that aim to change consumption of junk foods in a person’s diet”.

The article is co-authored by Dr Debayan Pakrashi of the University of Queensland in Australia, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in India. It is due to be published in the journal Risk Analysis.