MULTIPLE STUDIES, ONE CONCLUSION: TAKE A WALK!

DEAR DOCTORS: Why is there so much different advice about walking? I just read that doing 15 minutes a day can help you live longer. I've also heard that a few minutes after a meal is important, long walks help your brain and just a few short walks a day are good as long as you walk really fast.

- DR EVE GLAZIER & DR ELIZABETH KO

DEAR READER: You've asked a great and reasonable question. With so many studies looking into the health benefits of walking, it's no surprise that the variety of findings might lead to confusion. The truth is — and we're not trying to be cute here — they are all correct. Walking is a great form of exercise. It's free, doesn't require special equipment and can be done virtually anywhere at any time. What these walking studies show is that the practice yields some type of health benefit when done at any pace, for any duration at any frequency.