Eric Wickel, Ph.D., is the John C. Oxley Endowed Chair of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences and professor of exercise and sports science within UTulsa’s Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences. His research examines how movement, sedentary time and sleep contribute to physical and mental health across the lifespan.
When asked why walking is so beneficial for our overall health, he said the following:
Walking is one of the most accessible and effective behaviors for promoting a healthy lifestyle. Regular walking improves cardiovascular fitness, helps maintain a healthy body weight, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and several chronic conditions and is associated with better mental health and overall well-being. Even modest increases in daily walking can provide meaningful health benefits, particularly for individuals who are currently inactive.
Current physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. For many adults, this is roughly equivalent to 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day. As a general strategy, aim to move more, sit less and replace sedentary time with walking whenever possible.
Professor Wickel’s research is housed in the Physical Behavior Research Hub, which is currently involved in several projects that aim to better understand daily behavior’s influences on overall health. This includes studies on cardiovascular health and the use and interpretation of wearable devices and self-report tools to inform physical behavior surveillance, intervention and health outcome research. To learn more about Professor Wickel’s research and whether you are eligible to participate in one of his studies, visit the Physical Behavior Research Hub website.