Walk your way to better health

4th April 2017

Stockport’s health and social care organisations are supporting a new drive to encourage residents to simply walking briskly for at least ten continuous minutes every day.

The plan is to help people build more physical activity into their everyday lives without it feeling like a chore.

So to help motivate people to get more active, Public Health England has launched a free new mobile app which measures the duration and intensity of walking.

People are being encouraged to download the app – Active 10 – which shows how much brisk walking a person does throughout the day.

Active 10 also provides tips and encouragement on how you can fit ten minute bursts of brisk walking into your day.

Dr Vicci Owen-Smith, Clinical Director at NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group said, “If walking was a drug it would be regarded as a miracle cure!

“Brisk walking can lower the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes stroke and cancer. In addition, it can improve your mood and help you maintain a healthy weight.”

Councillor Tom McGee, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Health, said “I would encourage people to download the free app and see how you can build some brisk walking into your daily routine. You don’t need to spend money on gym membership to get more active, taking a brisk lunch time walk, walking to the shops or walking some or all of the way to work all count.”   Visit  https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home  or search ‘Active 10’ online to find out more and to download the app.