Brisk Walking Lowers Blood Pressure, Increases Fitness In Obese

Bull.

"If walking seems too simple to be an effective fitness method, think again: taking a stroll is an easy way to lower pressure and for the obese to increase aerobic fitness, according to three researchers who presented findings at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine.

A study of 14 morbidly obese patients was designed to determine if brisk walking alone was sufficient to serve as an aerobic training stimulus, increasing heart rate to at least 70 percent of maximum. Patients were asked to determine their own brisk walking pace, and walked for one mile. All 14 achieved at least 70 percent of maximum heart rate."

You try moving at "at least 70 percent of maximum heart rate" and see how "easy" that stroll is.

Still, the effects are fleeting:

"Andrew Scott found that walking 30 minutes at 50 percent effort was most effective, reducing blood pressure for at least four hours.

'Our study found that walking for longer than 30 minutes or at a higher intensity had no additional effects on lowering blood pressure,' Andrew Scott, M.S., said. 'Those needing to lose weight may want to exercise for a longer period of time, but our findings show that ACSM's recommendations have significant health benefits.'"

There are no data published by these folks showing "health benefits" as the outcomes over time are not offered.

For weight loss, walking, as with all physical activity, is terribly inefficient.