Page 59 - Diabetes

A vigorous five-mile walk will do more
good for an unhappy but otherwise
healthy adult than all the medicine and
psychology in the world.” — Paul D.White

saying “sitting is the new smoking,” which is based on the activity guidelines, walking requires no special clothing or
research that a sedentary life is just as unhealthy as smoking gear and costs nothing. While brisk walking is best, there
cigarettes. Many people are trying to walk more and sit less are benefits from walking at a regular pace as well, such as
but sometimes it is difficult to find the time and motivation lowering your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease
to walk. Unlike other more aerobic exercise, walking takes and diabetes. Walking strengthens your bones and muscles
a bit more time and planning throughout the day. If you and may help you maintain a healthy weight. According
can’t go for one long walk you can always take frequent to a recent Harvard study, walking even counteracts the
shorter walks to get the same health benefits. effects of weight-promoting genes. Researchers studied
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 32 obesity-promoting genes in more than 12,000 people to
recommend that adults ages 19 to 24 aim for at least determine how much those genes contribute to a person’s
150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week. In weight. They discovered that the participants in the study
addition to being a low-impact way to meet the physical who took a brisk walk for one hour a day cut the effects of
DiabetesSelfManagement.com 57