World of Power Walking

This month the PWW Team take a look at -

WHI -

Walking the way to Health Initiative

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Site Overview

This WHI web-site is for everyone with an interest in 'walking for health'. It offers information, support and encouragement to complete beginners, existing walkers and health and leisure professionals

PWW Comment

This is a top quality reference site for walkers of all standards to use. It encourages people to take up, and or help others towards walking for a fit, active and healthy lifestyle.

Extracts from Site -

Why Walking for Health?

Walking is set to play a bigger role in creating a healthier nation. Described by health experts as 'almost perfect exercise', walking requires no equipment or expense and is the ideal way for most people to become more active. Seven out of every ten people in this country are not physically active enough to benefit their health.

What is WHI?

WHI is the 'Walking the way to Health Initiative' and it aims to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those who take little exercise or live in areas of poor health. 

The concept of Health Walks was started by an Oxfordshire GP, Dr William Bird, for his patients at Sonning Common Health Centre in April 1995.

WHI is an initiative of the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency. It benefits from extra funding from the Big Lottery Fund. WHI has helped to create over 350 local health walk schemes and has trained over 14,000 volunteer walk leaders. Since 2000, it is estimated that we've encouraged over a million people to walk more.

What is a Health Walk?

The short definition of a health walk is:
a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis
and it can include any walk which is specifically designed and carried out for the purpose of improving an individual's health.

With regard to cardiovascular health, the walk should be purposeful and 'brisk' (in other words more than just a stroll). Moreover it is a structured or semi-structured activity which is carried out on a regular basis as part of an individual's exercise regime.

Walking (without the 'health' bit) is a healthy activity in so far as any energy expenditure has health benefits, regardless of intensity.

In addition to this, organised walks (brisk or not) can have a health impact on individuals by providing an opportunity to socialise (good social networks enhance health) and a distraction from everyday stresses (stress contributes to poor health).

It is the relevant intensity of the walk for the individual and the regularity of participation that can really have an impact on heart health.

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