Starting your fitness journey can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially with the endless stream of advice online telling you to hit the gym, lift weights or invest in specialised equipment. But getting healthier does not have to begin with an elaborate workout routine. Simple, everyday movements can also help you become more active and build healthier habits – and one of the easiest places to start is with something as simple as walking.
Dr Chisom Ikeji, board-certified internal medicine, geriatric, and critical care physician, is highlighting the benefits of one of the most underrated forms of exercise – walking. But the evidence tells another story.” In an Instagram video shared on June 10, the physician explains, “Walking is one of the most underrated things that you can do for your health. Somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that exercise only counts if you’re drenched in sweat and have done like a million burpees if you’re under the age of 65.
And even a modest increase in your daily step count can improve your health outcomes. Dr Chisom Ikeji is a critical care, geriatrics and internal medicine physician. She trained in internal medicine at MedStar Health, followed by fellowships in geriatrics at Yale University and critical care at the University of Pittsburgh. She is also an award-winning physician and researcher with interests in quality improvement, geriatric trauma care, healthcare leadership and end-of-life care.
She explains, “Research consistently shows that regular walking as a part of an exercise routine reduces the rates of hypertension , type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment, and premature death. And before anyone says, ‘I don’t have time to walk 10 miles a day,’ news is, you don’t have to. Health benefits start well below 10,000 steps. One study showed that getting at least 7,000 to 8,000 steps a day actually showed a reduction in mortality.
