Walking in general offers a load of benefits, but walking at speed (classed as ‘moderate-intensity exercise) is especially beneficial.

Studies have found that power walking can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. It’s also great for bone health, with research finding that it can prevent lower body joint issues from happening.

“There are benefits to more vigorous walking, and they are mostly physiological,” Nanette Mutrie, director of physical activity for health research at the University of Edinburgh explains. Most obviously, there are cardiovascular benefits from increasing your heart rate. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, a faster walking pace is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

And aother study from New Zealand found that walking speed could be directly associated with brain health, too, suggesting that those who walked faster had a lower risk of cognitive decline.

All the benefits of power walking: why strolling at speed is so good for your health