Walk more and stay healthy (NST)

Walk more and stay healthy (NST)

PEOPLE who walk for exercise should aim for a pace of 100 steps per minute to ensure their workout is intense enough.

Researchers from San Diego State University said as health benefits can be achieved with bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes, a useful starting point is to try and accumulate 1,000 steps in 10 minutes, before building up to 3,000 steps in 30 minutes.

Experts recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, five times per week. If those 30 minutes are achieved in one session, that means taking a minimum of 3,000 steps per session.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, are based on exercise tests given to 97 healthy adults with an average age of 32.

In general, men needed to walk at a pace of 92 to 102 steps per minute to achieve a moderately intense workout for their hearts. The range for women was between 91 and 115 steps per minute.

However, the researchers point out that walkers can also break those steps down into several shorter exercise sessions throughout the day.