Walking Discovered to Be Better Exercise Than Running

Scientists have discovered that walking offers more health benefits than running. It was recently revealed that brisk walking is better than running.

Both produce benefits but walking has proved to be healthier for the heart than running. Therefore, runners might be better off walking for health, researchers say.

Brisk walking reduces the risk of heart disease more effectively than running when the energy expenditure of both activities is compared.

Researchers compared data from two studies of 33,060 runners and 15,045 walkers. For the same amount of energy used, walkers experienced greater health benefits than runners.

Running reduced the risk of heart disease by 4.5% while walking reduced it by 9.3%. Walking also had a stronger impact on heart disease risk factors. The risk of first-time high blood pressure was reduced by 4.2% by running and 7.2% by walking.

First-time high cholesterol risk was lowered by 4.3% by running and 7% by walking. The risk of first-time diabetes was reduced by about 12% by both walking and running.

“Walking and running provide an ideal test of the health benefits of moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running because they involve the same muscle groups and the same activities performed at different intensities,” said study leader Dr Paul Williams, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

Walking has also been advocated because it entails less risk of muscle and bone wear and tear than running.

This is good news for people who are afraid to exert themselves by running for exercise. Go ahead then, Take a walk today!