The results of an interesting study which appeared in the October issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise were reported in USA Today by Janice Lloyd. The number of steps per day taken by adults from four countries was measured using pedometers and the results show an interesting correlation with obesity rates:
United States: 2.5 miles/day 34% obesity rate
Japan: 3.5 miles/day 3% obesity rate
Switzerland: 4.8 miles/day 8% obesity rate
Australia: 4.8 miles/day 16% obesity rate
Clearly, American adults walk less than adults in other countries and have a significantly higher obesity rate. Walking less than 2.5 miles per day is considered sedentary. A lack of activity is also associated with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer and other chronic illnesses. The take home lesson here is that activity is an important adjunct to decreasing intake of calories to maintain proper weight and walking is a good way to increase activity.
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