Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Seniors: Walking For Longevity
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Bulletins

Seniors: Walking For Longevity

walking for longevity seniors
1 min

Even if you’re well over 60, walking regularly can add years to your life, and it might take fewer steps than you may think. Researchers from the American Cancer Society followed a group of men and women in their 60s, 70s and 80s (their average age was 69) for 13 years and discovered that even those who reported walking for less than two hours per week had a lower risk of death than those who were inactive. The study participants who met or exceeded national guidelines calling for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week – in this case, walking – were 20 percent less likely to die during the 13 years than others in the study. The researchers wrote that the six to seven percent of the participants who performed no regular physical activity at all were 26 percent more likely to die during the study than those who reported walking, even if they did so for less than two hours per week.

My take? These new findings should help encourage seniors who aren’t accustomed to regular exercise, and who think it takes a lot of time and effort to realize a benefit. Fitness expert, Dan Bornstein says that a 20-minute walk four to five days per week is a reasonable goal seniors should strive for, but if possible, a brisk 45-minute daily walk is ideal. The exercise will enhance heart and lung function and improve endurance as well as help with weight control by burning calories. For older adults who have joint problems that might be aggravated by walking, I recommend swimming or water aerobics classes. 

Source:
Alpa V. Patel et al, “Walking in Relation to Mortality in a Large Prospective Cohort of Older U.S. Adults.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, October 19, 2017, DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.08.01<

Also in this week’ bulletin:

  • Poultry And Risk For Urinary Tract Infections
  • Grudges Block Happiness & Wellbeing

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

Increasing Life Expectancy
Bulletins

Increasing Life Expectancy

creativity boost wellbeing
Spontaneous Happiness

Creativity Can Boost Wellbeing

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Mushrooms &amp; Health: What’s The Latest? | Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Mushrooms & Health: What’s The Latest?

Disrupted Sleep Could Be Bad For The Heart
Bulletins

Disrupted Sleep Could Be Bad For The Heart

How Ginger Supports The Immune System | Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

How Ginger Supports The Immune System

Intermittent Fasting Vs. Cutting Calories | Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Intermittent Fasting Vs. Cutting Calories: What Works Best?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Mushrooms &amp; Health: What’s The Latest? | Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Mushrooms & Health: What’s The Latest?

Disrupted Sleep Could Be Bad For The Heart
Bulletins

Disrupted Sleep Could Be Bad For The Heart

Daily Tips
Mushrooms Are Amazing!
Health Tips

Mushrooms For Memory

Mushrooms In My Life: Some Notes From Dr. Weil
Health Tips

Mushrooms In My Life: Some Notes From Dr. Weil

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com