masvida

By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom College credit for walking? That’s what the University of Georgia offers as one of its fitness classes for students. Whether this is a good sign or bad sign for our nation’s fitness is debatable.  Most of us are very familiar with the public health message about the multiple benefits of walking. A daily 20- to 30-minute walk supports cardiovascular health, weight control, and stress management. But how many of us actually follow that advice? The results might surprise you. Nearly 40% of Americans report that they “do not exercise.” This percentage has remained stable for many years. National recommendations for daily physical activity are actually quite modest: a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. This translates to about a half hour of brisk walking five days a week. Some recent evidence using more sophisticated activity sensors (instead of self-report information) suggests that only around 4% of adults meet that goal. Why is it such a c...