Walking makes people feel less stressed and more productive at work

Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey 2013, a first of its kind study on walking behaviour of people in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore has revealed that one fourth of the Indians do not exercise and out of 75%

By: Agencies | | Published: October 11, 2013 3:55 pm

Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey 2013, a first of its kind study on walking behaviour of people in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore has revealed that one fourth of the Indians do not exercise and out of 75% of those who do, 56% prefer walking over running, swimming and gymming. Also Read - Malaika Arora reveals her snappy secret pre-workout routine

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According to the survey, 42% of the total respondents across the three cities expressed the desire to remain healthy, 34% cited health conditions like blood pressure and heart problems as key reasons to take up walking, while 24% started walking after doctor’s advice. Improved lifestyle also served as a key motivator for 40% of the respondents to walk. In general, women prefer to walk with partners while men prefer to walk alone. 52% women preferred to walk with partners as it allowed them to spend quality time together. However, 70% men confessed their preference to walk with partners is a source of motivation to walk. (Read: Could walking be more healthy than running?) Also Read - Rannvijay hopes to inspire people to "commit to being healthy"

Amongst the key benefits of walking, 53% respondents agreed to experience decrease in stress and 41% vouched for improvement in their blood pressure.

Long office hours surfaced as one of the key barriers for not taking up walking as an exercise. 18% of respondents expressed fear of safety and security, 15% cite lack of walking area in the vicinity and 14% cited traffic as the key barrier for walking. Also, 19% of the respondents said they prefer spending time with the family rather than walking.

Manasije Mishra, Chief Executive Officer, Max Bupa said, ‘Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey is an insight into people’s attitude towards walking and shows that regular walking induces positive social and behavioral change among people. It also enhances their productivity and encourages them to lead a healthier lifestyle. As committed health partners, we aim to continuously remind people about the multiple benefits of a simple exercise like walking through our Max Bupa Walk for Health initiative.’

‘Walking is the simplest and most accessible form of physical exercise. Just 30 minutes a day significantly reduces the risk of dreaded life style diseases. The Max Bupa Walk for Health on October 20 in Delhi and Mumbai aims to encourage people to walk every day,’ added Sevantika Bhandari, Director Marketing, Max Bupa.

The survey has also revealed interesting insights on how people are increasingly using phone based applications and devices for walking. Interestingly, people in Delhi (50%) and Bangalore (49%) were found to be more tech savvy than people in Mumbai (44%). In general, younger population between 25-30 years old were found to be the most tech savvy. The tech savvy people are more health aware and spend time watching health related content on channels (61%), searching for health tips and information online (64%). (Read: ‘Walking 10,000 steps a day can make you fit’)

It has emerged from the survey that 80% respondents in Delhi who were regular walkers are more health conscious and possess health insurance. These policy holders are also more health aware and undergo regular preventive health checkups. 36% of them regularly get their blood pressure levels checked and 32% get frequent blood tests done. (Read: Event: Max Bupa Walk for Health 2013 in Delhi and Mumbai)

The second edition of Max Bupa Walk for Health is scheduled for October 20 this year in Delhi and Mumbai.

Key findings:

One fourth of Indians do not exercise
Better health is the primary reason for people to walk
Long office hours, lack of walking space and excessive traffic are some of the key barriers to walking
Regular walkers in Urban India actively use walking apps to track their movement

Published : October 11, 2013 3:55 pm

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