Pick Up The Pace

When you think about your daily routine (commute to work, grocery shopping, household chores etc.) do you tend to walk slower or faster than others around you? What if your walking pace reflects how long you will live? Would you pay more attention to your walking habits?

According to a new study conducted by researchers at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a slower walking pace is related to having a lower life expectancy. The research utilized data from approximately half a million UK individuals. They found that people who routinely use a faster walking pace have a longer life expectancy no matter the weight of the individual. This is the first time research has associated fast walking pace with a longer life expectancy regardless of a person's body weight or obesity status. In a similar study, the researchers showed that middle-aged people who are slow walkers were twice as likely to have a heart-related death as fast walkers, even when other risk factors such as smoking and body mass index were taken into account. These findings suggest physical fitness is a better indicator of life expectancy than body mass index (BMI).

Saturday, June 1st is National Health and Fitness Day which is a great time to test out a faster walking pace. Since 2014, the first Saturday in June is designated National Health and Fitness Day across the country. The goal is to make Canada the “fittest nation in the world”. It is a day set aside to encourage citizens to get out and get active in their communities. Many gyms across the lower mainland have waived the day-pass fee and national parks across the country are free on June 1st. Enjoy your day in your community!

For more information about National Health and Fitness Day you can follow the link below:

https://www.nhfdcan.ca/home