Research
Energy balance
Walking is as effective as vigorous exercise for reducing coronary event risk when total energy expenditure (MET-hours per week) is equated.
If you prefer walking, you can achieve significant heart protection by walking briskly for about 1.5 hours per week. You do not need to jog or play tennis to get similar coronary benefits, provided you accumulate the same amount of energy expenditure.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
when total energy expenditure was similar, vigorous exercise was no more effective than brisk walking in significantly reducing the risk of coronary events in older women.
Why this rating
Based on Manson et al. study cited in the paper, showing specific relative risks.
Source
Physical Activity in Aging: Changes in Patterns and Their Relationship to Health and Function
Loretta DiPietro · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · 2001
DOI 10.1093/gerona/56.suppl_2.13
narrative_reviewCited 595×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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