Abstract
This study summarizes the possibilities of walking as a toll influencing health, fitness, body composition and well-being and other psychological variables. Following the intervention program lasting 5 months with a 1000 kcal energy intensity in senior women, 1500 kcal in middle-aged men and 2000 kcal for children composed of at least 85% walking, pointing to significant changes in fitness and body composition parameters.
Fitness that was characterized by maximal oxygen uptake was improved from 13% (in senior women and obese children) to 17% (middle age men). Similarly was altered the motor performance – maximal speed of walking on the treadmill about 11% in senior women and obese children and about 15% in middle aged men.
Percentage of body was decreased by 1.6% in senior women and about 16.8 in men of middle age. Together with these variables were significantly improved the predispositions for physical and workload evaluated by ECM/BCM coefficient.
The lowest mean chase was found in middle age men (4.8%) and the highest in senior women (10.8%). It may be concluded that walking in the range of 7000 to 10000 steps per day is able to remove the movement deficit in contemporary population, which is due to present lifestyle and may be used in majority population for improvement of health predispositions and for improved of physical fitness state.