According to New Research, People Who Walk Faster Live Longer

By
Ava K
-

How fast do you walk? Believe it or not, your walking pace could be a good indicator of your general health and even predict how long you will live.

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Remember the scene in Baby Boom when Diane Keaton struggles to walk as fast as the younger businesswoman on the sidewalk? How, when does this slower #walking thing happen?! A first hint: You've started to ask your adult son or daughter to slow down so you can keep up. Yeah, the same kids you used to slow to a crawl for not so long ago. . So why do we walk slower as we age and what can we do to keep that pep in our step? . . SHED SOME POUNDS Extra weight is cumbersome. Most of us gain weight as we get older, especially after age 40. . ADD MUSCLE Muscle is power and energy, strengthens joints and improves balance. There's a reason athletes pile the stuff on, but it also matters in daily activities like walking. Make #musclebuilding a regular part of your #workoutroutine. . STRETCH More #flexibility means fewer injuries that prevent longer, quicker strides. Muscles, tendons and ligaments all shrink and stiffen as we age, so get your daily #stretching or #yoga on. . BOOST #CARDIO Poor #cardiovascular health is another factor. Regular walking helps, but switch things up with higher-impact #aerobic activities like cycling, jogging, running, skating, skipping or Zumba. . PAMPER & PREVENT #Chronicconditions are more likely after 50. Anything from heart disease to osteoarthritis, diabetes, anemia or nagging injury can slow you down. Even #menopause is a culprit. Get sound medical advice to effectively treat your condition and prevent it from getting worse. . SLEEP BETTER It revs you up and helps your body heal. But #sleeploss is common in midlife and beyond. A consistent #nightlyroutine, #meditation, less caffeine, a magnesium supplement, herbal remedy like valerian, and #aromatherapy can all help you sleep better. . GET GOOD SHOES Feet take a pounding and can suffer painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bunions and turf toe, making brisk walking less likely. Consult a foot doctor and remember, well-fitting shoes with good shock absorption are invaluable. . #fastwalking #walkingisgood #walkingforhealth #healthyfeet #healthyaging #fitnessforlife #midlifefitness #loseweight #gettingolder #aging #walkinglovers #babyboom #genX #over50

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That is what health experts at the University of Leicester and Loughborough University found after collecting data from nearly half a million people from the UK. The respondents were a range of weights and age. For reference, the average life expectancy in the UK is 79 for men and 82 for women.

The results show the lowest life expectancy in people who are underweight and walk slowly – it’s 64 years for men and 72 for women.

“Our findings could help clarify the relative importance of physical fitness compared to body weight on life expectancy of individuals,” said one of the study’s authors, professor Tom Yates. “In other words, the findings suggest that perhaps physical fitness is a better indicator of life expectancy than body mass index (BMI), and that encouraging the population to engage in brisk walking may add years to their lives.”

Another interesting finding from the study is that the slow walkers have twice the chance to die from a heart-related death than fast walkers. This is true even when other risk factors, like smoking and BMI, are taken into account.