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National Walk to Work Week highlights health benefits

Aberdeenshire Council is encouraging residents to consider participating in National Walk to Work Week (9-13 May).

By registering on the National Walk to Work Week website residents will be able keep track of their walking, see their miles walked and calories burned mount up, and earn online 'rewards' for their achievements.

You can register online at: www.mylivingstreets.org.uk

The authority is also encouraging employees to take part to help reduce congestion, emissions and encourage a more active lifestyle.

In the last 20 years journeys by foot have fallen by 39%. This trend coincides with increasing car ownership and rising obesity.

Experts recommend that adults be active for a total of 30 minutes a day, on five or more days of the week to benefit health.

The good news is that these 30 minutes can be made up of shorter bouts of 10 to 15 minutes, making walking an ideal way to hit the target.

Walking can help with:

• Disease prevention

• Weight management and the prevention of associated illnesses

• Positive mental health promotion

Travel planning officer for Aberdeenshire Council, Andrew Stewart, said: “National Walk to Work Week is the ideal time to give walking a go.

“Walking to work may not be suitable for everyone but a large proportion of people do travel walkable distances to work. It is an easy form of exercise requiring no special equipment.”

For more information on walking to work and travel planning, please visit:

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/walking and www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/travelplan

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