Extended walks benefit heart health more than brief strolls, especially for inactive people. Scientists studied 33,560 UK adults aged 40-79 who walked under 8,000 daily steps. Participants were tracked over eight years and grouped by walk duration: under 5 minutes (43%), 5-10 minutes (33.5%), 10-15 minutes (15.5%), and 15+ minutes (8%). Those taking longer walks showed lower heart disease and death risks than short-burst walkers. Even the least active group walking under 5,000 steps daily saw significant health improvements with extended walks. “We tend to place all the emphasis on the number of steps or the total amount of walking but neglect the crucial role of patterns,” said co-lead researcher Prof Emmanuel Stamatakis. The study recommends walking continuously for at least 10-15 minutes when possible, roughly 1,500 consecutive steps. (Story URL)
