Health Benefits Of Walking

NEED A REASON TO WALK?

Here are a few:

• It helps control weight
• It helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
• It helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling
• It promotes psychological well-being
• It reduces the risk of developing colon cancer
• It reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
• It reduces the risk of dying prematurely
• It reduces the risk of dying from heart disease
• It reduces the risk of developing diabetes
• It reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure
• It lowers both total blood cholesterol and triglycerides and increases high-density lipoproteins (HDL or "good" cholesterol)
• It helps improve balance
• It helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure

WALKING FACTS:

How many steps are in a mile?

Approximately 2,000 steps, but this number can vary depending on your stride.

How many steps should you do each day for overall health?

10,000

How many steps should you do each day to maintain weight?

11,000

How many steps should you do each day to lose weight?

12,000 - 15,000

How many calories do you burn walking 1 mile?

Walking at a pace of a 30-minute mile (moderate pace), a 150 lb person would burn an estimated 85 calories; a 200lb person would burn an estimated 114 calories; a 250lb person would burn an estimated 142 calories; and a 300 lb person would burn an estimated 170 calories.

To lose 1/2 pound per week, how many steps would I need?

To lose ½ lb per week by adding steps, you would need to expend an extra 1,750 calories. This is equivalent to an extra 20,000- 40,000 steps a week depending on how much you weigh.

Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.

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