Get Your Minimum Daily Requirement of Walking
"From the perspective of prevention, it appears that the 30 minutes per day will keep most people from gaining the additional weight associated with inactivity," said said Cris Slentz, Ph.D of the Duke University research team in a news release."Given the increase in obesity in the U.S., it would seem likely that many in our society may have fallen below this minimal level of physical activity required to maintain body weight."
More Exercise and Higher Intensity Even Better
The group that exercised at 65-80% of maximum heart rate (equivalent of running or racewalking) for 20 miles a week saw even better results than those who either ran for 12 miles a week or walked for 12 miles a week. This shows that more is better.Results
Walking 30 minutes a day or 12 miles a week at 40-55% maximum heart rate: Lost 1% of body weight, lost 1.6% of waist measurement, lost 2% of body fat and gained 0.7% lean muscle.Jogging at 65-80% of maximum heart rate for 12 miles a week: lost 1% of body weight, lost 1.4% of waist measurement, lost 2.6% of body fat, gained 1.4% lean muscle.
Jogging at 65-80% of maximum heart rate for 20 miles a week: lost 3.5% of body weight, lost 3.4% of waist measurement, lost 4.9% of body fat, gained 1.4% lean muscle.
Non-exercise control group: Gained 1.1% weight, gained 0.8% waist measurement, gained 0.5% body fat.
Exercise Without Dieting Reduces Health Risks
The study shows the effects of exercise without dieting in maintaining body weight and reducing risk of major illness. "This study revealed a clear dose-response effect between the amount of exercise and decreases in measurements of central obesity and total body fat mass, reversing the effects seen in the inactive group," Slentz said. "The close relationship between central body fat and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension lends further importance to this finding."The Duke study was published in the Jan. 12, 2004 "Archives of Internal Medicine." The study was supported by a $4.3 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The trial, dubbed STRRIDE (Studies of Targeted Risk Reduction Interventions through Defined Exercise), was led by Duke cardiologist William Kraus, M.D.
Time to Get Moving?
Walk of Life 10-Week Program: Our free daily program of walking, healthy recipes, nutrition tips and more.Let's Get Walking: Daily program for beginners to build up from zero to walking for 30 minutes a day. Free.
How to Walk Faster: Walkers can achieve the higher heart rate levels for more benefit.
Source: Cris A. Slentz, Brian D. Duscha, et.al. "Effects of the Amount of Exercise on Body Weight, Body Composition, and Measures of Central Obesity," Archives of Internal Medcine 2004;164:31-39.
