Walking
Why Walk? Why Not!
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination each week. The guidelines also recommend that children and adolescents be active for at least 60 minutes every day. Following these guidelines can contribute to overall health, and decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.
Walking is a great way to get the physical activity needed to obtain health benefits. Walking does not require any special skills. It also does not require a gym membership or expensive equipment.
Why not! Add walking as part of your daily routine.
For more information about walking, check out these resources below:
Top of PageSelected Resources – Learn More about Walking
Step it Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities presents five goals and supporting implementation strategies to help Americans be physically active and for the nation to better support walking and walkable communities for people of all ages and abilities.
The 2016 Bicycling and Walking Benchmarking Report combines original research with over 20 government data sources to compile data on bicycling and walking levels and demographics, safety, funding, policies, infrastructure, education, public health indicators, and economic impacts.
In this Journal of Physical Activity and Health supplement, titled “Walking and Walkability: Approaches to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health,” selected articles highlight several key strategies to promote walking in the United States. The two focus areas of these strategies are: improving the physical environment to support walking and recognizing the role of personal motivation for walking.
Every Body Walk! is a campaign aimed at getting Americans up and moving. This site features information about the health benefits of walking, news, videos, and events. The Every Body Walk! collaborative is a partnership of national, state and local organizations, federal agencies, businesses, and professional associations that are committed to developing and implementing collective approaches that can return walking to a valued, cultural norm for all Americans.
America Walks offers resources for increasing walking and expanding walkable communities. Together, America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative boast 700 allied organizations who across the nation are working to increase walking and make America a better place to walk.
Mall Walking: A Program Resource Guide [PDF-5.51MB] The Mall Walking Guide provides information about the health benefits of walking, explains why mall walking programs can help people walk more, and provides practical strategies for starting and maintaining walking programs.
The Airport Walking Guide [PDF-2.35MB] was developed as part of CDC’s Walk to Fly project to encourage airport travelers (through point of decision signage) to make active choices.
- Page last reviewed: May 23, 2016
- Page last updated: May 23, 2016
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