Define “Moderate-Intensity Walking”

This study earns my new Blisstree Health Pat on the Back award:

If someone told you to go for a moderately intense walk, what would that mean to you? If you ask your coworkers or friends, you’d likely get differing answers too. It’s fine for healthcare professionals to offer advice, but we need to be more specific and detailed with this advice, don’t we?

Maybe now, we’re getting somewhere though. According to a press release issued by Elsevier Health Sciences, “Researchers have determined that a rate of at least 100 steps per minute achieves moderate intensity activity. Therefore a simple pedometer-based recommendation of 3000 steps in 30 minutes can get people started on a meaningful exercise program.”

That’s a fairly brisk walk, I think – but it is do-able.

The release also says:

Lead investigator Simon J. Marshall, PhD, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, states, “We believe that these data support a general recommendation of walking at more than 100 steps per minute on level terrain to meet the minimum of the moderate-intensity guideline. Because health benefits can be achieved with bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes, a useful starting point is to try and accumulate 1000 steps in 10 minutes, before building up to 3000 steps in 30 minutes. Individuals can monitor their progress using a simple pedometer and a wristwatch. The use of a single and simple pedometer-based guideline that is easy both to remember and measure may be more effective in a health communication strategy than the promotion of multiple guidelines and, therefore, messages.”

I often make fun of some studies and how useless they are to us, but this is a good one that actually gives us something to work with. Bravo to the researchers who worked on this study. I offer you the Blisstree Health Pat on the Back award.

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Image: morguefile.com