Walking every day is good for you, but the speed at which you walk could also be a key factor in determining how long you live.

The faster you walk, the longer you live, researchers have found after studying the walking speeds of 34,485 people aged 65 years and older.

The difference in walking speed becomes especially significant once you reach the age of 75, say researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. While the average walking speed is around 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) a second, those who walked at the faster tempo of 1 meter (3.3 feet) a second were up to 87 per cent more likely to be alive 10 years later if male, and 91 per cent if female.

The researchers say that walking speed is as good a predictor of longevity as medical history – such as blood pressure, obesity and chronic disease – and lifestyle choices, such as smoking.

(Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2011; 305: 93).

via The faster you walk, the longer you live, say researchers | What Doctors Don’t Tell You.