Do new homes make you lazy? Believe it or not, people who live in older houses walk more than others. But you can adopt a walker's mind-set no matter where you live - Fitness / News and Notes - Brief Article

Natural Health, Jan-Feb, 2003

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN houses built before 1974 are almost 50 percent more likely to walk regularly than people who live in homes built in 1974 or after, according to a study published last summer in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. David Berrigan, Ph.D., a cancer prevention fellow at the National Cancer Institute and the lead researcher for the study, links the finding to the fact that older neighborhoods have more shops within walking distance and more streetlights and sidewalks.

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy walking in newer neighborhoods. To get more steps into your daily routine, use these tips:

1. If your neighborhood doesn't have many sidewalks, look for bike paths and walking trails.

2. If you can't walk to the store, park a few blocks away from your destination and walk.

3. Form a walking group with friends who live nearby and make plans to walk together several times a week. Vary your route so you don't get bored.