A study by researchers in the United Kingdom suggests a link between walking pace and life expectancy, indicating that individuals who walk more quickly tend to live longer.
Faster Walking Linked to Longevity Across All Body Types
Researchers analyzed data from 474,919 individuals in the UK Biobank, gathered between 2006 and 2016. They found that faster walkers tend to live longer, regardless of their body mass index—whether underweight or morbidly obese.
This marked the first study to connect faster walking speeds with increased longevity. “The findings suggest that physical activity could be a stronger indicator of life expectancy than body mass index, reinforcing the idea that brisk walking may add years to one’s life,” said lead author Tom Yates from the University of Leicester in a statement.
Slow, Underweight Walkers Face Shortest Lifespan, Study Shows
The study found that underweight individuals who walked slowly had the shortest life expectancy—64.8 years for men and 72.4 years for women. In contrast, faster walkers had significantly higher averages: 86.8 years for men and 87.8 years for women. This trend held true across all waist sizes.
Co-author Francesco Zaccardi noted that earlier studies focused on “relative risk,” a measure less straightforward than life expectancy. In those cases, a higher body mass index was linked to a percentage increase in mortality risk. In contrast, this study highlights that brisk walking places greater demands on the body, and the physical activity from simply walking faster may contribute to a longer life.
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