Just 15 minutes of fast walking per day can improve longevity, study finds

Between the lines: The general upsides of walking are well documented. But this research showed that walking at a quick pace delivers health benefits on a much shorter timeline.

• The research found slow walking for more than three hours daily was associated with a 4% reduction in mortality.

Zoom in: Fast walking reduced premature death from all causes, researchers said. It was particularly effective at reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

• Researchers said that could be because walking boosts the heart's efficiency and reduces obesity and the risks that come with it, such as high blood pressure.

The intrigue: The study, published last month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is one of the first to measure the effect of walking speed, particularly among under-represented groups including Black and low-income populations.

What they're saying: "Brisk walking offers a convenient, accessible and low-impact activity that individuals of all ages and fitness levels can use to improve general health and cardiovascular health specifically," VUMC professor Wei Zheng, the senior author for the study, said in a statement.

Fun fact: Fast walking was strongly beneficial regardless of other factors like overall leisure time and physical activity, per the research.

State of play: Researchers analyzed data from 79,856 participants in the Southern Community Cohort Study, which enrolled people from 2002 to 2009.

• The researchers cross-checked that group for deaths logged through Dec. 31, 2022.

Reality check: While the study included a large sample size and a long tracking time, there were limitations.

• Researchers noted that the data on walking was self-reported, which could have led to errors.
• The study used participants' baseline reports on walking and did not consider changes in activity over time.