Why a walk with friends is the path to good health

Walking in groups does more than put a spring in your step – it cuts your risk of life-threatening disorders, say researchers. Stroke, coronary heart disease, depression and even cancer recurrence can be staved off through regular outdoor walking in groups, they found.

Among the benefits are lower blood pressure, resting heart rate, blood cholesterol levels, body fat and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA), who carried out a study, want doctors to recommend group walking as a regular tonic. Sarah Hanson and Professor Andy Jones of UEA’s Norwich Medical School carried out a review of 42 studies that looked at 1,843 participants in 14 countries, including a total of 74,000 hours of group walking.

Sarah Hanson said ‘Our research suggests that by joining a group, people walk faster and further than they would normally walk. It is one of the best and easiest ways to boost overall health. The benefits are wide ranging – and they go above and beyond making people more physically active.’

Britons are advised to do 150 minutes a week of moderate activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking. But almost a third do less than 30 minutes exercise a week, and one in 10 doesn't manage to walk more than five minutes at a time over a month.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter