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Walking the Way to Health

Walking the way to health logo

Walking is the perfect low impact exercise that can make drastic improvements to your physical and mental health and well being.

The Walking the Way to Health Initiative (WHI) is a national scheme that was set up by the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation to encourage people to walk for 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week.

The aim of the scheme was to get more people walking in their community, especially those who take little exercise or live in areas of poor health.

WHI has helped to create over 350 local health walk schemes and has trained over 14,000 volunteer walk leaders. Since 2000 it is estimated that WHI has encouraged over a million people to walk more.

Walking the Way to Health Timetable

Download the weekly walk timetable.

Why Walk for Health?

Walking is described by health experts as 'almost perfect exercise', walking requires no equipment or expense and is the ideal way for most people to become more active. Seven out of every ten people in this country are not physically active enough to benefit their health.

  • Regular physical activity can have a beneficial effect on up to 20 chronic diseases or disorders.
  • A UK study has estimated that 37% of Coronary heart disease is attributable to inactivity (McPherson, 2002)
  • Physical activity helps people feel better about themselves through improvement in mood, reduced anxiety and enhanced self perceptions.

As well as the health benefits mentioned above, regular walking can help you to lose weight, reduce blood pressure, give you more energy, keep your heart strong, and help you sleep better.

Go back to the Active Lifestyles homepage.

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