Physicians - Register now for Walk with your Doc

Walk with your Doc, taking place September 18-26, is a fun and simple way to get your patients moving, and to discuss the benefits of daily activity with them in an informal and social setting. Walk with Your Doc is a grassroots initiative that started in 2010, when the first walk was hosted by Dr Ron Wilson. Dr Wilson wanted to make a meaningful difference for his patients and community in a fun and accessible way. Since then, more than 2,400 doctors have led walks in their communities. British Columbia’s doctors are committed to supporting our patients to be the healthiest they can be. They aren’t just “talking the talk” … they are “walking the walk”, side by side with their patients and communities.

Physicians can register at walkwithyourdoc.ca.  Doctors of BC will provide supplies and information to help make organizing your walk easy. For additional information, resources, and questions contact Patrick Higgins at View Email Addressphiggins@doctorsofbc.ca. Take a quick look at some videos created for this event on Doctors of BC YouTube channel.

Why walking is important:

• Aside from not smoking, being physically active is the best thing you can do for your health – and walking is the easiest way to be physical active.
• Walking not only makes you feel better – physically, mentally and emotionally – can help you look and feel younger, and even become smarter!
• Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes per week and losing just 7% of your body weight (12-15 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%.
• Walking is good for your bones. Research shows that postmenopausal women who walk approximately one mile each day have higher whole-body bone density than women who walk shorter distances, and walking is also effective in slowing the rate of bone loss from the legs.
• To be physically active, we encourage you to walk for at least 30 minutes, five days a week.
• The best way to reach your goal is to start at your current level, and slowly increase by 10 – 20% every week or so.
• On an average day, active people take about 10,000 steps – adding 30 minutes of walking increases that daily count by about 2,000 to 3,000 steps.
• It helps to walk with other people, walk with a friend, or join a walking club.

Links:

Look and feel younger source

Become smarter source

Walking prevents diabetes and is good for bones source