In September and October, more than 70 U.S. cities will host a "Walk from Obesity" event to raise both awareness and money for the fight against obesity.

"In 2007, the Walk raised more than $750,000 to support the ASMBS Foundation and its research and professional education initiatives, and the patient and general public educational and advocacy programs the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). To date, the Walk has provided nearly 2.3 million dollars in overall support."

Walks are happening in cities throughout the nation. Individuals who are interested in participating or supporting walkers can find more information at www.walkfromobesity.com. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: advocacy, community, walking

People who carry pedometers or set walking goals for themselves end up walking as much as an extra mile every day, according to a study in the November 21, 2007, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pedometers are small devices that count steps when you walk.

Researchers at Stanford Medical School examined the records of 2,767 people and found that pedometers and walking goals helped them get more exercise, lose weight, and slightly improve their blood pressure.

"The bottom line is that everything works for a month," said Dr. Robert Lustig, lead author. "Everything novel works. If you have the motivation, a pedometer helps. If you don't, it's useless."

Labels: exercise, walking

Gilbert, Arizona has received a $39,000 grant from the Safe Routes to School Program. The program is designed to decrease traffic and increase the use of walk and bike paths to and from schools.

"Plans for the program call for printing maps of walking and biking routes and working with neighborhoods to encourage more students to walk or bike to school."

Some, however, worry about safety, and some elementary schools won't let their youngest students bike or walk to school. In all, a dozen Arizona cities and governments received grant funding for similar projects, aimed at reducing childhood obesity by encouraging children to walk to school.

Read more at AZCentral.com.

Labels: exercise, safety, walking