Millions of Seniors Don’t Walk for 10 Straight Minutes Once a Month

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A new study found that as many as 6 million seniors don’t even walk for 10 straight minutes once a month. Researchers warn of an ‘inactivity epidemic’ plaguing middle-aged people.

Past studies had shown that inactivity can boost the risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer’s even in younger people. The Public Health England found that 41% of people aged 40 to 50 years walk less than 10 minutes at a pace of 3 mph per month.

PHE is behind a nationwide camping targeting the sedentary middle-aged population which encourages them to at least walk to the store instead of using their motor vehicle. Seniors and middle-aged adults are also encouraged to walk on lunch breaks if they want to have a healthy life later on.

Government researchers think that brisk walking for ten minutes daily is achievable even by the most inactive people. The exercise can increase mobility, improve mood, lead to a healthy weight, and even slash the risk of dying prematurely by 15%.

Brits Encouraged to Walk More and Faster

Just walking doesn’t require equipment, new skills, or a gym membership. According to guidelines from the UK’s chief medical officers, adults should do at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity per week.

But the PHE found that 6 million Britons are doing less than half an hour of exercise per week. So, asking these individuals to exercise for 150 minutes per week is unrealistic, PHE researchers wrote in their report.

PHE’s One You campaign encourages inactive adults to walk briskly for just 10 minutes per day. The group has released an app called Active 10 which monitors users and enables them to achieve the goal. GPs were instructed to recommend the app to their patients too.
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