Study: Walking for a long period once a day is more beneficial than intermittent walking throughout the day.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Follow-ups: A recent scientific study conducted in the United States and Australia revealed that walking or exercising for a continuous period of 10 to 15 minutes a day is better than walking several times a day for 5 minutes at a time to reduce the risk of heart disease and premature death, especially for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or are less active, even if they take the same number of steps per day. According to the study published in the scientific journal "Annals of Internal Medicine," a research team from the European University in Sydney, Australia, Harvard University, and Brigham Hospital in the United States, followed the health status of about 33,000 adults in Britain who are keen to walk 8,000 steps a day. Over the course of about 10 years, it was found that the chances of premature death for those who walk several times for periods of less than 5 minutes at a time are 4.4 percent, compared to 0.8 percent for those who walk the same number of steps for 10 to 15 minutes. The chances of developing heart disease or heart attacks were 13 percent for those who walk less than 5 minutes at a time, compared to 3.4 percent for those who walk 15 minutes or more per day. The study indicated that the relationship between walking for longer periods and reducing the risk of heart disease or premature death was clearer for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle or take less than 5,000 steps a day. In statements to the "HealthDay" website, which specializes in medical research, researchers participating in the study said that walking for longer periods may be more effective if a person starts by taking fewer steps.