Walk with a Doc program encourages healthy habits
If you’re looking to incorporate exercise into your routine, UK HealthCare's community-focused walking program -- called Walk with a Doc -- is a great way to engage in physical activity and to instill healthy habits. The UK Integrative Medicine & Health (IMH) program hosts this campaign on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at Fayette Mall (3401 Nicholasville Rd, Lexington, KY), meeting at the Food Court Entrance located between JCPenney and Macy's. (Walk with a Doc will return to the Arboretum in spring 2023.)
“There are countless physical activities to choose from, but walking is a simple and inexpensive change you can make to improve your health,” said Dr. Connie Jennings, IMH medical director. “Since the thought of being alone prevents some people from walking, finding a group to walk with can be enough incentive to maintain an active walking schedule.”
Jennings notes that walking for at least 30 minutes a day can help improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol, and lower your risk for diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis and possibly depression.
“Walking is low impact and therefore easier on the joints than running. It is safe – with a doctor’s OK – for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions, and those who are more than 20 percent overweight,” Jennings said.
In fact, she said, research comparing runners and walkers demonstrated that moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running resulted in similar reductions in risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which are significant risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke.
Walk with a Doc was created in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a board-certified cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio, to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages and to reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. There are currently more than 500 Walk with a Doc programs worldwide.
The program is free and open to anyone interested in improving their health and well-being. Each walk will be led by a UK faculty member.
