October 2012

More Americans are walking for their health, but their average time spent walking has dropped, according to new CDC findings. The agency reports that the percentage of Americans who say they walk at least 10 minutes a day increased from 55.7% to 62% from 2005 to 2010. But the average time devoted to walking declined, from 15 minutes a day to 13 minutes. Nonetheless, walking remains a key contributor to meeting the recommended 150 weekly minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity: Walkers were nearly three times more likely to meet that goal. Overall, the CDC said only 48% of adults get the recommended amount of exercise in any form, and one-third get no physical activity at all. “You have to build it into your regular routine and make it a part of your life,” advised CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. “I would say there’s no single drug that can do anything like what regular physical activity does.”