Dr. Michael Mosley Endorses Nordic Walking for Weight Loss and Health

Dr. Michael Mosley, a renowned health and wellbeing expert, has changed his stance on Nordic walking after discovering its numerous benefits. He initially thought the exercise, which involves using poles while walking, was only suitable for older individuals who needed assistance. However, Dr. Mosley now recommends Nordic walking as a highly effective full-body workout that can lead to faster weight loss, improved heart health, and relief from back pain.

Why this matters: The endorsement of Nordic walking by a prominent health expert like Dr. Michael Mosley could lead to a significant increase in its adoption, potentially improving the overall health and wellbeing of a large segment of the population. Moreover, the exercise's ability to modify cardiovascular disease risk by 80% makes it a crucial tool in the fight against one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

According to Dr. Mosley, Nordic walking "burns more calories, works more muscles, and boosts quality of life." A study published by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute found that Nordic walking led to greater improvements in functional capacity, a measure of daily physical activities, compared to regular walking. Another study showed that Nordic walking can lead to significant reductions in body fat, with participants seeing a 23% improvement in mental health.

One of the key benefits of Nordic walking is its ability to engage almost twice as many muscles as regular walking, including upper body muscles, which can also help improve posture. Dr. Mosley admits, "It turns out I am completely wrong... using poles like this actually boosts the intensity of walking, turning it from a walk into a full body workout." The exercise is particularly beneficial for people with existing heart disease, with a study showing it can modify cardiovascular disease risk by 80%.

Nordic walking is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Dr. Jennifer Reed from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute conducted a study that found Nordic walking led to greater improvements in functional capacity in patients with heart disease. A 12-week program resulted in improved strength, upper body, lower body, and core muscles, as well as increased confidence and improved posture. "We found that Nordic walking led to greater improvements in functional capacity over the course of the 12-week programme... I think it was effective for a number of reasons,"stated Dr. Reed.

For those looking to get started with Nordic walking, the POWER OF POLES Induction course offers a structured teaching program suitable for all fitness levels. The 90-minute session teaches the basics and provides a Freedom Passport, allowing access to over 2,500 national Nordic Walking UK and WALX classes weekly. Poles are available for loan, and strict cleaning procedures are in place. A monthly WALX membership costs £19.99 and provides unlimited access to effective total body walking in various locations.

Nordic walking has proven to be a low-impact exercise that offers numerous benefits for physical and mental health. With Dr. Michael Mosley's endorsement and the backing of scientific studies, more people may be encouraged to take up this full-body workout to improve their overall well-being. As Dr. Mosley discovered, Nordic walking is much more than just a walk in the park - it is a powerful tool for weight loss, cardiovascular health, and back pain relief.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Michael Mosley endorses Nordic walking as a full-body workout for weight loss, heart health, and back pain relief.
• Nordic walking burns more calories, works more muscles, and boosts quality of life compared to regular walking.
• The exercise engages almost twice as many muscles as regular walking, including upper body muscles.
• Nordic walking can modify cardiovascular disease risk by 80% and is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
• A 12-week Nordic walking program can lead to improved strength, posture, and mental health.