Photos courtesy of Dr. Bryan Ghiloni
Every little bit helps. It’s a saying that applies to many aspects of life, including physical fitness.
Some of the patients I see at Mount Carmel Medical Group New Albany, where I practice as a primary care physician, think becoming physically fit requires spending hours at the gym or running dozens of miles, but that is a misconception. Walking for just 30 minutes a day can start you down the path to better health, something I’ve witnessed firsthand through a great program called Walk with a Doc.
My Story: Personal and professional experience informs need to keep kids moving
Walk with a Doc is a national organization created in 2005 by my colleague, Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist at Mount Carmel Health System. The organization is devoted to encouraging healthy physical activity in people of all ages with a goal of reversing the effects of sedentary lifestyles.
More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity-related conditions including heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes are some of the leading causes of preventable death. However, people can take their health into their own hands by getting up and moving.
Related: Far-ranging fitness
I first began volunteering for Walk with a Doc in fall 2013 and was inspired by the program’s ability to motivate people to become active participants in achieving their best health. The free program invites community members to walk with a doctor for an hour at a local park or recreation center. During the walk, the doctor also answers health-related questions from participants. The program started with one site, Highbanks Metro Park, and now has more than 150 sites across the nation and abroad.
Physical activity doesn’t have to be complicated, and that’s what is great about Walk with a Doc.
Every week I encourage and challenge walkers to increase their activity and bring a friend along. Walking is an easy way to reduce the risk of heart disease because it’s low-impact, safe and a practical form of exercise for people of all fitness levels.
One of our East Side walkers was only going to our Walk With a Doc events every other week. The walker has diabetes, and we talked about the condition during each walk. I challenged her to exercise more because it could help treat her diabetes. The walker has accepted the challenge, and I am working with her to increase her exercise.
During WWAD, one of the walkers talked with me about a sore heel. I was able to give advice on the spot, and he is doing much better.
If you need more reason to get out and walk, according to the American Heart Association, it’s possible to improve blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve blood lipid profile by walking for 30 minutes a day. Walking is a simple form of exercise that requires no equipment and is easy to start.
If you’d like to start conquering your fitness goals, I invite you to join me at Walk with a Doc at 8:30 a.m., every other Saturday, beginning April 11, at Big Walnut Park and Far East Community Center, or visit www.walkwithadoc.org for a list of walks near you.
Bryan Ghiloni, M.D., is a primary care physician with Mount Carmel Medical Group New Albany.
