Estimates of the number of people in England who attain or exceed vigorous intensity exercise by walking at 3 mph |
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Authors: | Paul Kelly Marie Murphy Pekka Oja Elaine M Murtagh Charlie Foster |
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Institution: | 1. BHF Health Promotion Research Group , University of Oxford , Oxford, UK paul.kelly@dph.ox.ac.uk;3. University of Ulster, Sport and Exercise Science Research Institute , Jordanstown, UK;4. UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research , Tampare, Finland;5. Mary Immaculate College, Arts Education and Physical Education , South Circular Road, Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland;6. BHF Health Promotion Research Group , University of Oxford , Oxford, UK |
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Abstract: | Abstract Walking is a safe, accessible and low cost activity, amenable to change and known to have great potential to increase physical activity levels in sedentary individuals. The objective of this study is to estimate the proportion of the 2009 adult population of England who would attain or exceed vigorous intensity activity (>70% maximum heart rate HRmax]) by walking at 3 mph. We conducted predictive impact modelling using participants' (n = 1741, aged 25–64 years) cardiovascular fitness data from treadmill walking tests. We combined this data with English population estimates adjusted for age and sex to estimate the numbers of individuals that would exceed 70% HRmax (an intensity considered sufficient for fitness gains) when walking at 3 mph (4.8 km · h?1). We estimate 1.5 million men (95% confidence interval CI] 0.9–2.2 million) (from 13.4 million corresponding to 11.6% (95% CI 7.0–16.2%)) and 3.9 million women (95% CI 3.0–4.8 million) (from 13.6 million corresponding to 28.6% (95% CI 22.0–35.1%)) in England aged 25–64 years would benefit from regularly walking at 3 mph. In total, a projected 5.4 million individuals (95% CI 3.9–6.9 million) aged 25–64 (from 26.97 million corresponding to 20.1% (95% CI 14.6–25.7%)) could benefit from walking at 3 mph. Our estimates suggest a considerable number of individuals in the English population could receive fitness and health benefits by walking regularly at 3 mph. Physical activity messages that promote walking at this speed may therefore have the potential to significantly impact national fitness levels and health in England. |
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Keywords: | Walking fitness public health |
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