If you’re a fast walker, your brisk pace could be doing more than just getting you places quicker—it might also be protecting your health. According to a study from Japan's Doshisha University, individuals who self-reported walking faster than their peers were found to have significantly lower risks of metabolic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal blood lipid levels.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, examined nearly 25,000 participants who had obesity, high waist circumference, or both. Researchers assessed their "subjective walking speed" by asking a simple question in a health questionnaire: “Is your walking speed faster than that of your age and sex?”
Diabetes Risk Reduction: Faster walkers exhibited a roughly 30% lower risk of diabetes.
Hypertension and Dyslipidemia: The study also noted smaller yet notable reductions in the risks of high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Health Link: The researchers attributed these benefits to the relationship between faster walking pace, improved cardiorespiratory fitness, and reduced inflammation—factors known to influence metabolic health.
Lead researcher Kojiro Ishii explained that even individuals with obesity, who are generally at a higher risk for metabolic disorders, showed improved health outcomes if they reported a faster walking speed. Among the participants, 8,578 had obesity, 9,626 had a high waist circumference, and 6,742 had both conditions.[1]
A unique aspect of the study was its reliance on subjective self-reporting, rather than objective measurements requiring specialized equipment, time, or space. The simplicity of asking participants about their walking pace makes it an ideal tool for large-scale health screenings, particularly in clinical and public health settings.
“This questionnaire is already part of a standardized health protocol in Japan, making it an easy and efficient way to identify individuals at higher risk for metabolic diseases,” said Ishii.
Promoting faster walking could be a simple yet effective behavioral strategy to prevent metabolic conditions, especially in individuals with obesity. Although the study did not establish direct cause-and-effect relationships, its findings align with previous research on walking speed and health outcomes.
The research highlights how a simple question like, "Do you walk faster than others your age?" could hold life-saving potential. By incorporating subjective walking speed into routine health evaluations, healthcare systems may better identify individuals at risk for metabolic disorders and intervene early.
So, the next time you pick up the pace, know that those extra steps might just be a step toward better health.
1. Yamamoto, Y., Ikeue, K., Kanasaki, M. et al. Association between subjective walking speed and metabolic diseases in individuals with obesity: a cross-sectional analysis. Sci Rep 14, 28228 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78541-w
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