• Skip to navigation
  • Skip to content
Ulster University logo Return to Ulster University homepage
  • Global students – Resources for Ulster University International Students
  • Staff Links – Resources for Ulster University staff
  • Student Guide - The Student Guide to Ulster
  • Portal - for Ulster University
  • Find staff & Departments – search and browse Ulster’s staff directory
  • News – for Ulster University
  • Events – for Ulster University
  • Home - Ulster University website homepage
  • Study at Ulster University

    Study options

    • Study in Northern Ireland
    • Undergraduate study options
    • Postgraduate study options
    • Postgraduate Research/ PhD
    • Short courses and CPD
    • Part-time Undergraduate study options
    • Part-time study options
    • eLearning study at Ulster University

    Courses

    • Search for courses
    • A to Z 2023/24
    • A to Z 2022/23

    More information

    • Entrance requirements
    • Equivalence of qualifications
    • Your rights and obligations
    • International students
    • Further education students
    • Associate students
  • Campus Life at Ulster University

    Campus Life

    • Campuses
    • Accommodation - Residential Services
    • Sport Services
    • Students' Union UUSU
    • All Ulster University Events

    Support

    • Student Guide
    • Student Wellbeing
    • Digital Services
    • Library

    Careers and Opportunities

    • Employability and Careers
    • Go Global
    • Science Shop
    • Student Enterprise
  • Research & Impact

    Research & Impact

    • Our research
    • Collaboration and Innovation
    • Work with us
    • Our Research Topics
    • Our Research Teams

    PhD/Research degrees

    • Funded & Self Funded PhDs
    • Postgraduate Research Programmes
    • How to apply for PhD Research
    • Funding for Phd's
    • Contact the Doctoral College

    More information

    • PURE - research portal
    • REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
    • Policies and Procedures
  • Business themed areas of Ulster University

    Work with Us

    • Recruit top talent
    • Business School student placements
    • Scholarships, sponsorships and corporate giving
    • Upskill courses by Sector

    Business Engagement

    • Build a course
    • Executive Education Courses
    • Apprenticeship Hub
    • Business leader Peer Mentoring
    • Postgraduate short courses

    Research Expertise

    • Work with us
    • Funding opportunities
    • Innovation Ulster Ltd
    • Case studies
    • Meet the team

    Further Information

    • Market information
    • Hire one of our venues
  • Graduates of Ulster University
  • Home - Go to homepage
  • Study Options at Ulster University
  • Find a course at Ulster University
  • Campus Life
  • Research & Impact at Ulster University
  • Business at Ulster University
  • Graduates - find out about Alumni and Supporters at Ulster University
  • Global Students – become part of our global community at Ulster University

  • Student Guide
  • Staff Links – Resources for Ulster University staff
  • Find staff & Departments – search and browse Ulster’s staff directory
  • Portal – customise and access your online services

  •   Twitter account for Ulster University
  •   Facebook account for Ulster University
  •   YouTube account for Ulster University
Ulster University
  • Search
  • Link for Ulster University
  • Link for News
  • Link for 2018
  • Link for June
11 June 2018

Study finds walking faster could help you live longer

Study finds walking faster could help you live longer

An analysis of over 50,000 walkers found a faster pace is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Walking at a brisk or fast pace was found to be associated with a 24 percent risk reduction for all-cause mortality compared with walking at a slow pace.

While a similar result was found for risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, with a reduction of 21 percent walking at a brisk or fast pace, compared to walking at a slow pace.

The protective effects of walking pace were also found to be more pronounced in older age groups. Fast pace walkers aged 60 years or over experienced a 53 percent reduction in risk of death from cardiovascular causes.

The findings appear in a special issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (from the BMJ Journals group) dedicated to Walking and Health, co-edited by Professor Marie Murphy, Professor of Exercise and Health at Ulster University to celebrate 21 years of walking research.  The special edition contains nine papers from leading walking researchers from across the world.

Professor Murphy said:

“We all know that walking is beneficial to our health and this special edition provides some of the latest research to back this up. One of these papers summarises a study of over 50,000 walkers and focuses on the specific role of walking pace. The results indicate that increasing our walking pace could be a simple way for people to improve their heart health and risk of premature mortality.

“Walking is already promoted as a cornerstone of health promotion but we believe this information on walking pace should be emphasised in public health campaigns to encourage people to incorporate a brisk-paced walk into their everyday lives. Even if you only have a little free time, upping the speed of your walk and increasing your heart rate will improve your health.”

In a collaboration between Ulster University, University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh and Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick), the researchers sought to determine the associations between walking pace with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality.

Linking mortality records with the results of 11 population-based surveys in England and Scotland between 1994 and 2008 – in which participants self-reported their walking pace – the research team then adjusted for factors such as total amount and intensity of all physical activity taken, age, sex and body mass index.

While sex and body mass index did not appear to influence outcomes, walking at an average or fast pace was associated with a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease.

A fast pace is generally five to six kilometres per hour, but it really depends on a walker’s fitness levels; an alternative indicator is to walk at a pace that makes you warmer, slightly out of breath or sweaty when sustained.

In light of the findings, the research team is calling for walking pace to be emphasised in public health messages.

Colette Brolly, the Public Health Agency’s lead for physical activity, said:

“There are many health benefits of walking.  It can help you feel good, reduce anxiety, help manage your weight, reduce blood pressure and help you sleep better.  Adding a brisk pace to your walk can be particularly beneficial to your heart health.  Walking is also very enjoyable and a good opportunity to socialise, which is also good for health.

“Taking part in any activity is better than doing none at all, so it’s very important to move more than you did before and each day try to increase your activity levels.”


Share Article:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn

Related Topics

Find out more about Faculty - Life and Health SciencesFind out more about School of SportFind out more about Sport and Exercise SciencesFind out more about Sport Services

Related news

  1. Tue 24 May 2022

    New heart disease research could reduce hospital waiting times by 100,000 hours per year

  2. Tue 12 Apr 2022

    Double celebrations for the Meek family as father and daughter graduate with Master's degrees

  3. Thu 10 Feb 2022

    Ulster University and Canary Speech build innovative partnership

Elsewhere on Ulster

Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

Ulster University Business School- Faculty

Courses & Research

  • Search for courses
  • Undergraduate courses at Ulster University
  • Postgraduate courses at Ulster University
  • Part-time courses at Ulster University
  • Short courses & CPD at Ulster University
  • Study online at Ulster University
  • Research & Impact
  • Doctoral College
  • PURE Research Portal

Campus locations

  • Belfast campus
  • Coleraine campus
  • Jordanstown campus
  • Magee campus
  • London and Birmingham
  • Qatar

Campus facilities

  • Residential Services / Accommodation
  • Sports Services - Memberships and Facilities
  • Library Services and resources supporting learning, teaching and research at the University

About The University

  • About Ulster University
  • Contact Details
  • Job opportunities
  • Key calendar dates
  • Faculties at Ulster University
  • News - Ulster University
  • Events - Ulster University

Other sites

  • Alumni & Supporters
  • Confucius Institute
  • Get advice from Employability and Careers
  • Finance Department
  • Flexible Education
  • Digital Services - computing, digital and media services
  • People & Culture
  • Student Wellbeing
  • Sustainability

Ulster University social

@StudyAtUlster Follow us on Twitter @UlsterUni Follow us on Twitter
/studyatulster /ulsteruniversity
/StudyAtUlster /UlsterUniversity
/ulsteruni
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statements
  • Copyright
  • Freedom of Information
  • Modern Slavery Statement

© Copyright Ulster University 2022.

Ulster University is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC100166).