Walking in a group can help individuals to meet health guidelines

The World Health Organisation recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity per week.  Very few adults meet these guidelines.  Now a review of 18 studies has found that individuals who walk in groups are more likely to meet these guidelines.  Lead author Professor Catherine Meads of Anglia Ruskin University said “Walking in groups is a safe and inexpensive intervention that can be delivered easily and successfully in the community.  At a time when we are being encouraged to meet physical activity guidelines, a large proportion of the public fail to do so.  Our review found that people may be more likely to exercise if they have social support.”