A recent article published in JAMA has caught my attention. It is about regular daily walking and getting our patients and the general population to move. Walking is easy but it is hard for doctors to convince and motivate their patients to do it. Studies blame our current environment. Sallis JF et al showed in a recent epidemiological study in 14 cities across the world that people who lived in the most active-friendly neighborhoods, walked 68 to 89 more minutes every week. Houston may be the least active-friendly city in the states. Unlike Austin and San Antonio, cycling in Houston is almost non-existent. Access to public transportation, and parks is not easy. Houston is rather big on restaurants, valet parking and “Texas Limousines”. Houston is also notorious for being one of the most stressful cities in America. The combination of stress, diminished physical activity and rich food in fat, salt and animal products is a sure recipe for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In 2007, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett announced a goal for the 600 000 people of his city to collectively lose 1 million pounds. He added a 70-acre downtown park and hundreds of miles of sidewalks and trails. Within 5 years, the city met Cornett’s goal, losing a million pounds. Daily walking is probably one of most beneficial forms of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis of studies about exercise and mortality showed that a sedentary person’s risk of dying prematurely from any cause decreased by 20 percent if he or she began brisk walking. Booth el al. showed that better designed neighborhoods for walking are associated with lower prevalence of obesity and diabetes.

So what can you do? Obviously, changing the landscape in Houston is not an overnight endeavor. You can, however, start walking. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Walk to your local grocery store or coffee shop. Get a bicycle and start hitting some of the cycling trails in town. Check www.houstonbikeways.org for new projects being developed in Houston to allow for safe biking round the city. Make an effort to develop a habit of walking at least 10,000 steps per day. Maybe a pedometer or one of the many wearable health devices on the market may help motivate you. Consider getting a treadmill desk for you office if you spend most of your day sitting.

The bottom line is that we need to move because it certainly improves your health, prevents weight gain, and prolong longevity.