NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE

One of the appeals of walking as exercise is that you don’t need any special equipment to do it.

- Beth Weinhouse

YOUR BEST WALKING BUDDY

But there’s one piece of gear that might be worth a try, according to a study in the journal BMC Geriatrics. Researchers in Nigeria, South Africa and Germany examined data from a variety of walking programmes for older adults. They found that the programmes that used pedometers or other fitness trackers to set goals and measure steps were more effective at lowering the risk factors for stroke. People who participated were more likely to reduce their blood sugar and systolic blood pressure (the top number, the most important one for heart health), and increase their activity.

Eat for Longevity