A study found that people who walked faster decreased risk of diabetes and hypertension.

Introduction 

According to a recent study, if you walk more quickly than your friends, you may be less likely to develop metabolic diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.

A single question in a health questionnaire, "Is your walking speed faster than that of your age and sex?" was used by researchers from Doshisha University in Japan to quantify the "subjective walking speed" of over 25,000 individuals who were obese, had a large waist circumference, or both. The findings, which were published in the journal Scientific Reports, demonstrated that those who identified as "faster walkers" had much lower odds of diabetes—roughly 30% lower—as well as modest but substantial decreases in the risks of hypertension and dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipid levels).

The association between walking pace and general health was the reason given by the researchers for the results.

They stated that faster walkers frequently have better cardiorespiratory fitness, which is linked to reduced levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, two major causes of metabolic disorders. 8,578 people in the research group were obese (as determined by body mass index), 9,626 had a large waist circumference, and 6,742 had both.

This study made it clear that even those who are obese

According to lead researcher Kojiro Ishii, a professor at the Doshisha University Faculty of Health and Sports Science, "this study cleared up that even people with obesity, who are at higher risk for metabolic diseases, have lower odds of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia if they report a fast subjective walking speed."

• In contrast to "objective walking speed," which requires resources, time, and space to analyze, "subjective walking speed" is self-reported and easily integrated into routine exams, according to the authors.

• The "subjective walking speed" metric is suitable for application in clinical and public health settings due to its ease of use and accessibility, they stated.

• "This study's questionnaire is part of a standardized protocol that was created by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare," Ishii stated.

• "This made it possible to conduct an assessment quickly and easily without the need for specific equipment." Encouragement of a quicker walking pace may be a beneficial personal behavior to help avoid metabolic disorders, especially in obese people, according to Ishii.

• The researchers stated that the results were consistent with other research on walking pace and health outcomes, despite the inability to prove cause-and-effect relationships.

According to the researchers, the study also demonstrated how assessing a person's subjective walking pace might be used to diagnose and prevent metabolic diseases associated with obesity, particularly when incorporated into routine medical exams.

"Is your walking speed faster than your peers?" is a straightforward inquiry that can provide life-saving information, they suggested.