Nearly Half of Older Japanese Walk Half an Hour or More a Day to Stay Fit
A recent survey found that nearly half of Japanese people aged 50 and over walk at least 30 minutes daily to stay healthy and active.
A survey conducted by Cosmo Health, a senior-oriented market research service, reveals that nearly half of older Japanese individuals walk for half an hour or more each day. The survey, conducted in March of this year, included 1,524 responses from people aged 50 and older. The most common walking duration was 10 to 30 minutes, which was reported by 31.5% of the respondents.
A further 29.8% of participants walked for 30 to 60 minutes, while 17.5% walked for an hour or more. This indicates that nearly half of the respondents engage in regular walking for at least 30 minutes a day. In contrast, those who hardly walk at all or walk less than 10 minutes a day accounted for just over 20% of the respondents, highlighting a clear distinction between those who walk regularly and those who walk minimally.
When asked about their thoughts while walking, 61.0% of respondents prioritized maintaining a straight back, followed by 49.7% focusing on avoiding falls and 34.4% concentrating on taking long strides. These priorities suggest a strong desire among older Japanese individuals to maintain their youthfulness through walking. The survey also found that the top concerns regarding future walking included "an injury from a fall" (50.7%) and "not being able to walk long distances" (50.1%).
Over 20% of respondents expressed concerns about not being able to travel anymore or needing a cane or mobility aid. Despite these concerns, more than half of the respondents reported that they engage in exercises and stretches, or go for walks to stay active in the future, indicating that many are committed to building the physical strength necessary to maintain their walking routine.
Written by urgent.news from Nippon.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
