Pedestrian charity, Living Streets has released new figures that show two-thirds of people walking less than an hour per week. The vast majority of people blaming the fact they get too hot and sweaty en route to wherever they are going or even blaming a lack of the correct footwear for not walking places. Those willing to shun such excuses, and not surprisingly, is the 55-64 age bracket and are more likely to walk more than two hours per day.
The charity is looking to have more people participate in the Great British Walking Challenge which is taking place in May and is looking to encourage people in walking further distances. They wish to include simple steps such as parking the car further away, alighting from the bus a few stops early or simply taking a walk to loosen up and wind down.
Many employers include such programmes within the workplace. Wellbeing is fast becoming a mainstay in the modern workplace as many employers are looking to have a fit and healthy workforce which means less sick days and more productivity. Lots of employers now offer group health insurance in conjunction with this, ensuring they have a happy and healthy workforce.
By walking it is less strenuous than say, going to the gym or a high octane sport and can be done in lunchtime, making it the simplest form of exercise and fits in with your daily routine. The benefits of walking include the reduced risk of heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease.
