A Doctoral student at the University of Colorado at Boulder conducted a study about the rate of walking and how it affected obesity. One-half of the 40 patients were obese and the others had normal weight. The study found that people who walked slowly for longer periods lost more weight than those who walked quickly. Additional benefits from strolling may include fewer joint injuries and a lessened chance of contracting arthritis.

The National Center for Health Statistics found that at least 60 million Americans over the age of 20 are obese. Health care costs are staggering for treating obese patients.

The researchers discovered that even though walking briskly can lower the chance of heart disease, walking slowly might be better for obese people because the risk of knee osteoarthritis is diminished.

Walking is a low impact exercise available to anyone – no gyms to visit, no special clothing to wear and no special equipment needed. The only investment a person needs to make is to buy shoes designed for walking. While normal athletic socks are fine, there are also socks with heavier padding at the toe and heel. These socks help to further protect feet.

Other tips for walking smart include taking a bottle of water along with you, walking on the grass if possible (it is easier on your feet than concrete), and wearing comfortable clothing that is not too tight. If you tend to sweat profusely, wear a terrycloth headband to keep the perspiration from dripping onto your face.

Don't look at walking as a chore – use your walking time to meditate, look at the world around you or think about the positive things in your life. Take a stroll rather than a brisk walk, and you will soon finding the pounds melting away.

By Ellie Kuykendall