(SOURCE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

By Helena Oliviero – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“More Americans are going for a walk, a promising trend to help fight obesity and improve overall health, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Overall in the United States, 62 percent of people reported walking at least once for 10 minutes or more during the previous week in 2010. That’s up from 56 percent in 2005.

“And while the percentage of walkers in the South still lags behind other parts of the country, it saw the largest jump in walking, according to the CDC. In the region that includes Georgia, 15 other states and Washington, D.C., 57 percent of people walked in 2010, up from 49 percent in 2005, according to the CDC. People in the West are most likely to walk, with more than two-thirds of people there regularly walking.

“Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said walking for as little as 10 minutes a week is a great first step toward meeting the recommended amount of 150 minutes per week of physical activity.

“‘Physical activity really is a wonder drug,’ Frieden said during a recent news conference. ‘It makes you healthier and happier, you live longer.’

“Frieden listed a slew of health benefits from walking and other forms of aerobic exercise. They included lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes, and helping get a better night’s sleep.

“Even if you don’t lose weight from walking, walkers can still reap health benefits from this low-impact form of exercise.

“Walking, he said, has a lot going for it: It doesn’t cost anything, you don’t have to join a gym, and walking is something that most people are able to do their whole lives.

“The CDC study found walkers are three times more likely to meet exercise recommendations than those who don’t walk at all.”

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And another study suggests that the “speed of someone’s walking may predict the likelihood of developing dementia later in life.”

“The scientists also told a conference that grip strength in middle-age was linked to the chance of a stroke. They said more studies were needed to understand what was happening.

“Experts said the findings raised important questions, but more research was needed.

“Suggestions of a link between slow walking speed and poor health have been made before.

“A study, published in the British Medical Journal in 2009, said there was a ‘strong association’ between slow walking speed and death from heart attacks and other heart problems. A Journal of the American Medical Associationstudy suggested a link between walking faster over the age of 65 and a longer life.

“Dr. Erica Camargo, who conducted the latest study at the Boston Medical Centre, said: ‘While frailty and lower physical performance in elderly people have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, we weren’t sure until now how it impacted people of middle age.’

“Brain scans, walking speed and grip strength were recorded for 2,410 people who were, on average, 62 years old.

“Results presented at the Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting said that 11 years later, 34 people had developed dementia and 79 had had a stroke.

“The researchers said slower walking speeds were linked to a higher risk of dementia and stronger grip with a lower risk of stroke.

“Dr. Erica Camargo said: ‘These are basic office tests which can provide insight into risk of dementia and stroke and can be easily performed by a neurologist or general practitioner.

“‘Further research is needed to understand why this is happening and whether preclinical disease could cause slow walking and decreased strength.’

“The findings have not yet, however, been published in a peer-reviewed academic journal.” (SOURCE: Belle News)