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Walk faster, live longer, say experts

12 November 2009: Older people who walk quickly may be less likely to die of heart disease, according to new research carried out in France.

 

Scientists timed how long it took 3,000 men and women aged 65 and over to walk a set distance, both at their usual pace and as fast as they could without running. The researchers then carried out two follow-up tests over the next five years.

The results showed that of the people who died during the study, about half had the slowest walking speed. The researchers looked into the causes of death and found that these people were three times more likely to have died from heart disease. However, the risk of dying from cancer did not appear to be linked to walking speed. These findings stood even after taking into account each person’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as information about whether they had diabetes or any previous heart problems (such as a heart attack).

Bupa International’s medical director, Dr Sneh Khemka, said: “It is difficult to tell from this study whether slower walking speed makes someone more susceptible to heart disease, or if walking more slowly is a result of undetected heart disease. Therefore, more research is needed to understand this better, and discover more about the association between fitness and cardiovascular health.

“However, it is important to emphasise that there is good evidence to show that regular exercise, including walking, reduces your risk of heart disease and other conditions including diabetes and certain cancers. It is recommended that adults aim to be moderately active for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Moderate activity means you should be left feeling warm and breathing more heavily than normal.”

Key facts

  • Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in both men and women worldwide.
  • The term heart disease covers a number of conditions that affect how well your heart functions. The most common is coronary heart disease.
  • Coronary heart disease usually develops as a result of fatty deposits building up on the blood vessels that supply your heart, causing them to narrow and making it harder for blood to reach your heart.
  • You can reduce your risk of heart disease by taking regular exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet and not smoking.

  • Read the study

    Dumurgier J, Elbaz A, Ducimetière P, et al. Slow walking speed and cardiovascular death in well functioning older adults: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2009; 339:b4460.
    doi: 10.1136/bmj.b4460

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