Planned Parenthood Launches Mobile Clinic to Improve Abortion Access

 

• A new mobile abortion clinic may help give people access to reproductive care.
• The clinic will be located in Illinois not far from Missouri where abortion is almost completely banned.
• After Roe v. Wade was overturned health providers have worked on bringing better access to people in states that have virtually banned the procedure.

Earlier this week, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri announced plans to open its first mobile abortion clinic by the end of 2022.

This mobile clinic will operate along the border regions of southern Illinois, where abortion is currently legal and protected by the state’s constitution.

The goal is to bring abortion services closer to people in the region, including those who travel to Illinois from the neighboring state of Missouri, where abortion is nearly completely banned.

“Abortion restrictions and bans create a patchwork of access where a patient’s zip code now determines their ability to make fully informed, autonomous reproductive health decisions,” Dr. Amy Addante told Healthline. Addante is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Illinois and a fellow with the advocacy group Physicians for Reproductive Health.

“Patients who are experiencing undesired or medically complicated pregnancies are faced with the choice to either continue that pregnancy against their will or navigate numerous barriers to traveling out of state,” she continued.

Medication abortion to start

Planned Parenthood’s mobile clinic will operate out of an RV, fully equipped with a waiting area, laboratory, and two exam rooms.

During its initial months of operation, it will offer medication abortion up to 11 weeks of pregnancy. Following a two-drug protocol, patients will take mifepristone on-site and receive counseling to take misoprostol later on.

These two drugs can stop a pregnancy and then induce an abortion.

Eventually, Planned Parenthood also plans to offer procedural abortion from its mobile clinic.

Procedural abortion is sometimes known as surgical abortion, which can be legally performed in Illinois until a pregnancy reaches viability.

Viability is determined as when a fetus can survive outside the womb, which usually happens around 23–24 weeks of pregnancy. After a pregnancy reaches viability, abortion is only legal in Illinois if the pregnant person’s health or life is in danger.

This will be the first mobile abortion clinic operated by Planned Parenthood but not the first in the country.

The nonprofit organization Just the Pill is already operating a mobile abortion clinic through its “Just Delivered” program in Colorado.

Source: Health News

Are Uterine Fibroids Cancerous?

 A fibroid is a very common, noncancerous tumor that grows in the uterus. They can be tiny or very large, and it’s possible to have several fibroids at once. Fibroids frequently grow without causing any symptoms or requiring any treatment.

But in rare cases, a mass in the uterus that was thought to be a fibroid actually turns out to be cancerous. In these cases, immediate treatment is needed. Typically, this involves surgery, followed by possible chemotherapy or radiation.

This article takes a closer look at fibroids, including symptoms, causes, treatment, and outlook.

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids are a type of tumor that develops in the uterus. They’re made of fibrous connective tissue and smooth muscle cells.

Fibroids are very common and are not cancerous. Fibroids don’t increase the risk of cancer. In fact, many types of fibroids don’t cause any symptoms or require any treatment at all.

But very rarely, a mass in the uterus that was thought to be a fibroid turns out to be cancerous. This occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 Trusted Sourcefibroids. These rare tumors are called leiomyosarcomaTrusted Source, a type of cancer that grows in smooth muscle tissue.This rare type of fibroid needs immediate removal.

Do fibroids cause symptoms?

It’s very common for fibroids not to cause any symptoms at all. But large fibroids, or large numbers of fibroids, can cause symptoms. Small fibroids can also cause symptoms if they’re located in the uterine cavity.

Symptoms may include:

• bleeding between menstrual periods
• heavy menstrual periods
• long menstrual periods
• abdominal bloating
• lower back pain
• pelvic pain
• frequent urination
• pain during sex

Cancerous tumors in the uterus can also cause these same symptoms. Frequently (though not always), the primary difference between cancerous tumors and fibroids is that they’ll look different on imaging tests.

Source: HealthNews

Lipedema Treatment

 Lipedema is a chronic medical condition characterized by an unusual buildup of fatty tissue under your skin. It causes large amounts of hard, painful fat to accumulate in your lower body. It typically affects your hips, thighs, and calves but may also affect your upper arms.

This condition usually affects people assigned female at birth. It runs in families and may be linked to hormones. It typically appears at times of significant hormonal change, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.

Lipedema can worsen over time. Your treatment plan will depend on the stage and severity of your condition.

There is no cure for lipedema, but research is ongoing. Current treatments aim to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatments may:

• reduce fatty tissue
• improve lymphatic drainage
• relieve pain and inflammation
• improve mobility
• reduce emotional distress

Stages of lipedema

Lipedema treatments range from lifestyle strategies to surgery. A doctor may use multiple strategies at the same time to reduce symptoms and the discomfort they cause.

Lipedema can progress over time. Effective treatment will depend on how severe your symptoms are. To clarify how much the condition has progressed, doctors classify symptoms into four stagesTrusted Source:

• Stage 1: The surface of your skin looks typical, with minimal swelling. The fatty tissue under your skin, called subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), is soft. Stage 1 lipedema usually responds well to treatment.
• Stage 2: Your skin’s surface is hard and uneven, with fat nodules and more swelling. SAT is also hard. Treatments may still be effective.
• Stage 3: Your skin’s surface is thick and hard, with hard SAT under it. You have continuous swelling and large overhanging masses of tissue. This stage may be less responsive to treatment.
• Stage 4: You have very hard skin and SAT. You also have lymphedema. This stage is the least responsive to treatment, but pain management techniques and surgery may help.

Source: Health News

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

 Health experts often recommend people to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This is commonly known as the “8×8” rule. It may not apply to everyone, though.

The body constantly loses water throughout the day, mostly through urine and sweat but also from regular body functions like breathing. To prevent dehydration, you need to get plenty of water from drink and food every day.

There are many different opinions on just how much water you should be drinking every day.

Health experts commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon a day. This is called the 8×8 rule and is very easy to remember.

However, some experts believe that you need to sip on water constantly throughout the day, even when you’re not thirsty.

As with most things, this depends on the individual. Many factors (both internal and external) ultimately affect how much water you need.

This article takes a look at some water intake studies to separate fact from fiction and explains how to easily stay well hydrated for your individual needs.

Source: HealthNews

Hair Straightening and Uterine Cancer: What to Know About the Risks

 

• Previous studies have linked chemicals in some hair products to breast cancer.
• New research has found hair straightening chemicals may increase risk of uterine cancer.
• Risk was doubled for those frequently using hair straightening products compared to those not using them.
• Uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the US.

Various chemical ingredients are used in the formulation of hair products, many of which continue to be analyzed for their impacts on the body.

Now, new researchTrusted Source conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that chemicals included in some hair straightening products may increase the risk of developing uterine cancer.

The study assessed data spanning 11 years, relating to 33,497 US women aged 35-74. Insights were collected as part of the ongoing ‘Sister StudyTrusted Source’ led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS).

During this time, 378 women were diagnosed with uterine cancer. Those who frequently (four or more times per year) used hair straightening products had a 4.05% chance of developing the disease by age 70, compared to a 1.64% risk among women who did not use them.

Dr. Alexandra WhiteTrusted Source, head of NIEHS’ Environment & Cancer Epidemiology Group and lead author of the study, revealed that, among women who used the products occasionally but less than four times per year, “we observed an elevated but not statistically significant small increase in risk.”

The team also explored the effects of hair dyes, bleaches, highlighters, and perms on the incidence of uterine cancer and found no association — which was somewhat unexpected.

“We were surprised to not see a higher risk for permanent dye use, which has been related to risk of other cancers, such as breast cancer,” stated White.

Why frequency of hair straightening is important

Diving deeper into the two-fold risk increase, the researchers noted that 60% of women in the study diagnosed with uterine cancer self-identified as Black.

They hypothesized this might be due to higher product use among this group.

“Black women are much more likely to report using these products, so the exposure burden is more pronounced for them,” White shared with Healthline.

So how does the level of use make a difference?

When chemicals enter our systems through the skin, they “do not stay in our bodies forever,” Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicology physician and medical director at the National Capital Poison Center, revealed to Healthline.

“Chemicals that enter the human body are typically metabolized and excreted through the kidneys or feces, [and] people who are exposed to chemicals (including from hair straightener products) on a regular basis still metabolize and eliminate chemicals from their bodies.”

However, she continued, “using chemicals on a regular basis can result in a higher accumulation of chemicals in the body between exposures — which can lead to potentially dangerous health effects.”

The area to which chemicals are applied could also play a role in the absorption level, stated Dr. Ankit Madan, an oncologist with MedStar Health.

“The scalp, where hair straighteners are applied, may absorb more chemicals than other parts of the body,” he said.

Source: Healthnews

The stolen cells of Henrietta Lacks and their ongoing contribution to science

 In the past century, Henrietta Lacks has, arguably, done more to advance medicine than any other person. She played a material role in the development of polio vaccines, cancer treatments, HPV vaccines, and mapping the human genome. This young Black woman died from cervical cancer in 1951. It was cells taken during her cancer treatment that became one of the most powerful research tools ever, but she did not know about or give permission for their retrieval. What can we learn from such wrongs committed in the name of science?

In January 1951, a few months after giving birth to her fifth child, Henrietta Lacks, a 30-year-old Black woman, became concerned about a lump on her cervixTrusted Source. This, and unexplained vaginal bleeding, led her to seek medical attention.

She went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, the only hospital in the area that would provide treatment to Black people at that time.

Doctors there diagnosed a particularly aggressive form of cervical cancer. She did not tell her husband or family, informing them only that she had to go to the doctor for medicine.

The standard treatment at the time was radium therapy. During her first treatment, under sedation, the surgeon took a tissue sample from her tumor. He passed this on to the head of tissue culture research at Johns Hopkins, Dr. George Otto GeyTrusted Source.

Taking cell samples for research was routine practice at the time, and doctors rarely asked patients for consent. As a result, most patients were, like Henrietta, completely unaware of what would happen to their cells.

An uneasy immortality

The cells that doctors took from Henrietta’s tumor were then placed in a culture medium, labeled “HeLa” to identify them. The researchers expected that, like most cell samples, they would multiply a few times, then die.

After her first treatment, doctors discharged Henrietta from the hospital, and she went back to work in the tobacco fields, oblivious to the fact that doctors had taken her cells for research purposes.

In the lab, the HeLa cells not only remained alive, but multiplied at an astonishing rate.

Dr. Gey informed colleagues that his lab had grown the first immortal cell line, and shared samples of HeLa cells with them.

Source: MedicalNewsToday

Is it good to run every day?

 Running every day can have many benefits. However, the number of days in a row that it is safe to run depends on a person’s goals, their level of fitness, and whether they have any ongoing medical conditions.

A meta-analysis from 2015 found that in physically inactive adults, 1 year of routine running:

• reduced body mass
• lowered body fat ratio
• reduced resting heart rate
• increased maximum oxygen uptake
• raised levels of high-density lipoprotein, or “good,” cholesterol

These health benefits seemed to be more significant in people with longer training sessions. However, running too much, too intensely, or incorrectly can have negative health effects.

In this article, we describe the potential benefits and drawbacks of running every day. We also provide safety advice and tips on making running a regular healthy habit.

Is there an ideal frequency for running and resting? Experts recommend that each week adults engage in:

• 150–300 minutesTrusted Source of moderate intensity aerobic activity
• 75–150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity
• a combination of the two

Moderate aerobic activity includes activities such as brisk walking, while vigorous aerobic activity includes jogging and running.

For many adults, getting more physical activity brings additional benefits.

Also, a person’s physical and mental health may benefit most if they engage in exercise regularly throughout the week, rather than attempting to do a week’s worth of exercise in one or two sessions.

While many studies have highlighted the benefits of regular physical activity, researchers know less about the specific effects of running every day.

In addition, the results of studies that assess the impact of running tend to be hard to compare because they refer to different populations of people, running routines, and conditions.

A person’s ideal running routine depends on their:

• age
• overall health, including effects of any ongoing issues
• exercise goals

Several studies have demonstrated that when a person runs safely, regular running usually provides more health benefits than risks.

Most researchers behind these investigations have concluded that the frequency of running may be more important than the speed, duration, or intensity of a run.

While there seems to be a positive correlation between health and regular running, the right running routine varies from person to person. Research indicates that many people do not receive additional health benefits from excessive running.

Also, running is not safe for people with certain health conditions. Anyone with a chronic or ongoing condition should talk with a healthcare professional before starting a new form of exercise.

A healthcare provider can help determine the right frequency, intensity, and duration of a run, if running is appropriate, and recommend strategies for resting and practicing good self-care between sessions.

What are the health benefits of regular running?

For many people, running is a relatively easy form of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity. It can also be time-efficient and inexpensive.

Research evaluating the benefits of running found that:

• Regular running may reduce the risk of death from any medical issue by around 29% and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 50%.
• Jogging may increase the overall age-adjusted life span of men by 6.2 years and women by 5.6 years.
• Running at least three times weekly at a slow-to-average pace for up to 2.5 hours per week may be associated with the lowest risk of mortality.
• Regular running might reduce the risk of dying from cancer by 30–50%.
• Regular running may reduce the risk of dying from respiratory infections and neurological conditions.
• Running for 1 hour may translate into 7 hours of extended life for many adults.
• Running at a moderate intensity for 30 minutes each morning for 3 weeks may improve sleep patterns and psychological functioning.

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for AmericansTrusted Source, regular physical activity may help adults:

• reach and maintain a healthy weight
• reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and stroke
• reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
• reduce the risk of certain cancers
• increase life span and immune function
• improve overall mood and mental health
• improve functionality
• prevent falls and disability
• improve bone density and muscle strength
• reduce anxiety and depression
• improve sleep
• improve cognition and overall brain health
• reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
• improve the overall quality of life

Safety 

Regular running seems to have health benefits for many people. But it is not a safe form of exercise for everyone, particularly people with certain medical conditions.

Also, running that is too vigorous, frequent, or excessive tends to increase the risk of complications, including physical injury and overheating.

By some estimates, 33% of recreational runners experience at least one injury, and about 75% of these injuries involve the lower legs. Runners are also more prone to back and groin injuries.

Heart attacks are rare during physical activity. However, a person with any type of cardiovascular disease should consult a doctor before they take up running.

People with other health conditions should also seek medical advice before starting to run or increasing the intensity of a running routine, especially people with:

• respiratory conditions
• conditions that increase the risk of falling
• conditions that interfere with mobility
• conditions that increase the risk of muscle, joint, or bone injuries

Slow down, take a break, or seek shelter, hydration, or home medical care if any of the following occurs while running:

• cramps or blisters
• sunburn or windburn
• cuts or abrasions from falls
• weakness, tingling, or numbness
• a headache
• extreme exhaustion
• any trouble breathing, including extreme shortness of breath

Seek emergency medical care if any of the severe symptoms below occur during or after a run:

• dizziness or faintness
• balance, mobility, or coordination problems
• extreme, uncontrollable sweating
• shaking or tremors
• vision changes
• ringing in the ears or hearing changes
• the heart rate becoming rapid or uncontrollable

To reduce the risk of injury and other health complications, runners should also:

• warm up with moderate-to-light intensity exercise
• cool down and stretch after running
• stay hydrated before, after, and during workouts
• avoid running in extremely hot, humid, or dry conditions
• refrain from running in the middle of the day
• apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 30 to all exposed areas
• wear protective clothing when running outdoors during the day
• stop running if it no longer feels good
• set realistic goals based on factors specific to their situation
• avoid running on uneven, unclear, sandy, or hard surfaces
• continually scan the area for any hazards, such as sticks, branches, rocks, holes, and cars
• refrain from running until injuries have healed
• treat soft tissue injuries with rest, ice, compression, and elevation
• use correct running technique and form
• wear suitable running clothing and shoes that absorb or repel moisture and allow for airflow
• avoid running in heavily polluted environments, such as by roadways or in areas with particles of sand or dust in the air
• run in well-lit, safe public areas
• wear reflective material if running at night
• run with a cellphone or a friend, or let others know about the intended route and time frame

Tips

The following strategies can often help a person get the maximum benefits of running:

Begin with a moderate intensity

A person should start by running or walking at a pace that allows them totalk without feeling breathless. The duration or frequency of the exercise should never cause pain or injury.

Progress slowly

Begin with short periods of light-to-moderate intensity exercise throughout the week. Then, gradually progress to more frequent, longer, and more vigorous sessions.

To lose weight, gradually increase the routine

For adults looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, slowly and steadily getting more exercise over several weeks and months can help.

This often involves aiming to get more than 300 minutesTrusted Source of moderate aerobic exercise weekly.

Other general running tips include:

• trying additional types of exercise, including those that improve strength, balance, and flexibility
• making a realistic plan that takes into account factors such as age, sex, medical conditions, and health goals
• if running is not a good fit, replacing it with another form of aerobic exercise — such as swimming, cycling, or brisk walking
  

Summary

The overall impact of running every day remains unclear, and there is no one-size-fits-all running routine.

Research indicates that regular running may provide health benefits if a person runs safely. However, a variety of exercises may offer the same or similar benefits.

Anyone with an ongoing medical condition should consult a healthcare provider before taking up running or ramping up a routine. This is especially important for people with heart or respiratory conditions or any others that increase the risk of injury.

People who are new to running or currently inactive should start with frequent, low-to-moderate intensity exercises such as walking or brisk walking before progressing to jogging and running. Increasing the intensity gradually can help reduce the risk of injury.

Source - Medical News Today

Walking vs. running: Weight loss, heart health, and more

Walking and running are both suitable forms of exercise for weight loss and heart health. The benefits and risks depend on a person’s goals and current level of health and fitness.

While both activities allow a person to burn calories, lose weight, and lower their risk of heart disease, there is much debate over which is better.

Read on to learn more about the benefits and risks.

Benefits of cardio

Cardiovascular exercise is also known simply as cardio. It often uses major muscle groups in the body, gets the heart pumping faster, and increases breathing rate.

Walking and running are both types of cardio.

Cardio exercises offer numerous health benefitsTrusted Source, including:

• burning calories and fat for weight loss
• lowering cholesterol
• helping prevent or manage health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease
• strengthening the heart
• improving sleep patterns
• lowering stress
• increasing stamina
• improving mental health by reducing anxiety and depression
• increasing bone density
• boosting the immune system

One studyTrusted Source examined the benefits of exercise for mental health and found that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking, was enough to reduce anxiety and depression, alongside its other health benefits.

Which is better for burning calories?

Walking and running provide similar health benefits, but running has a calorie-burning edge over walking.

According to the American Council on Exercise, a person who is 160 pounds burns approximately 15.1 calories per minute while running. In contrast, a person of the same weight burns around 8.7 calories per minute walking.

The number of calories a person burns while walking and running depends on several factors, including:

• body weight
• duration of exercise
• the intensity of the activity

Running burns more calories per minute than walking. However, walkers can still burn the same number of calories by doing so for longer.

However, depending on a person’s goals, walking and running can still offer the same benefits.

Which is better for heart health?

Both walking and running are suitable for losing weight, boosting mental health, and improving overall health.

One study published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular BiologyTrusted Source concluded that walking and running reduced the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol levels, coronary heart disease, and diabetes.

However, the study did not directly address whether walking or running could benefit heart health and cardio.

Another report by the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source states that brisk walking at least 150 minutes per week is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Walking vs. running to reduce belly fat

Studies have found that storing a lot of fat in the midsection is associated with the risk of diseasesTrusted Source, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Whether choosing walking or running, exercise can help a person reduce their belly fat.

One studyTrusted Source found that regular aerobic exercises, such as walking, reduced belly fat and helped people manage obesity.

Walking and running help burn calories in the body, but they also help reduce belly fat, depending on the intensity of the exercise.

However, running may help reduce belly fat more effectively. One studyTrusted Source in 27 middle-aged females with obesity found that those who participated in high-intensity exercise training lost significantly more belly fat than those who did low-intensity exercise or no exercise training for 16 weeks.

Scientists need to perform more research comparing the effects of walking and running on belly fat reduction.

For example, a 2018 review found that low-intensity exercise was more effective in reducing abdominal fat, while high-intensity training had a bigger effect in decreasing overall body fat.

People who want to lose belly fat should consider speaking with their doctor, who can help them determine the best exercise program and diet for their needs.

Benefits and risks

While running and walking offer various health benefits, including maintaining a healthy weight and improving heart health, they may also come with risks.

There is a higher risk of injury with running than walking. This is because running is of higher intensity and puts more stress on the body — the joints in particular.

One studyTrusted Source found that walkers have a lower risk of injury, while runners have a high risk.

Some of the most common injuries associated with running include:

• fractures
• soft tissue injuries
• shin splints

For runners, it is crucial to take steps to reduce the risk of running-related injuries.

If a person has concerns about exercise-related injuries, they could consider walking instead, which offers similar health benefits to running, with a reduced risk of injury.

Those with arthritis, heart disease, or other chronic health conditions who are considering running should consult their doctor first.

Summary

Depending on a person’s goals, walking and running are appropriate forms of exercise. Both can help people maintain a moderate weight and improve their heart health, mental health, and more.

No matter which form of exercise a person chooses, they will see positive results with regular participation.

For those starting a fitness journey, walking might be a more suitable choice since it involves low or moderate intensity. However, for people whose goal is to burn more calories, running may be more appropriate.

How many calories do you burn by walking?

The number of calories the body burns while a person is walking varies depending on a range of factors, including body size and walking speed. Walking also offers a variety of other health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease.

The body uses energy from food and drinks to sustain bodily functions and perform physical activities. Calories are a measure of how much energy the body receives from particular foods or drinks.

When a person consumes more calories than they burn, the body stores this excess energy as body fat. When the body needs more energy than it can get from the calories it consumes, it burns the stored body fat for energy. Regular physical activity is a good way of maintaining a healthy amount of body fat.

While other forms of physical activity can be time-consuming or expensive, walking is convenient and free for people who can do so. This article discusses how to calculate the number of calories the body burns while walking, and some of the other benefits that walking has to offer.

Calories burned while walking

The number of calories that the body burns during any activity will depend on a person’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) and the intensity of the activity, measured in metabolic equivalents (METs).

The formula for this is:

Calories burned = BMR x METs ÷ 24 x duration of activity in hours

It is possible to use this formula to calculate how many calories the body burns by walking.

To do this, it is first necessary to understand about BMR and METs.

BMR

Basal metabolism refers to a series of life-supporting processes that the body constantly carries out, such as breathing. The body burns calories to support these processes. The rate at which the body does thisTrusted Source is the BMR.

The BMR varies between people. It is difficult to calculate precisely as it depends on several factors, including genetic factors that are difficult to measure. But it is possible to estimate BMR using sex, body size, and age.

The formulae to estimate BMR for males and females are:

Males:

BMR = 66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds (lbs)) + (12.7 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in years)

Females:

BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in lbs) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)

METs

METs are a measure of how much energy the body is using for a given activity.

When a person walks, the speed at which they are walking speed will determine the number of METs.

For example, walking at a slow pace of 1.7 miles per hour (mph) equates to 2.3 METs per hour. Walking briskly at a speed of 3 mph equals 3.3 METs per hour.

Making the calculation

Pulling all this information together, it is now possible to calculate how many calories the body burns while walking.

For example, a 40-year-old male who weighs 195 lbs and is 69″ (5’9″) in height will have a BMR of 1,885.2. If they walk at a brisk pace for 1 hour, they will burn 259.2 calories. This is because:

BMR (1,885.2) x METs (3.3) ÷ 24 x duration of activity in hours (1) = 259.2 calories

Comparison with other types of exercise

Using this formula, it is possible to calculate how many calories the body burns during any activity.

The METs for some other types of exercise are as follows:

Type of exercise	METs
Hatha yoga	3
Weight training, 8 to 15 repetitions of various exercises	3.5
Cycling, casual pace of up to 10 miles per hour	4
Jogging	7
Rope jumping	10

For example, a 50-year old female who weighs 160 pounds and is 64″ (5’4″) tall will have a BMR of 1,416.8. If this person jogs for 1 hour, they will burn 413.2 calories.

BMR (1,416.8) x METs (7) ÷ 24 x duration of activity in hours (1) = 413.2 calories

Other benefits

The United States government recommend that healthy adults engage in at least 150 minutesTrusted Source, or 2.5 hours, of moderate-intensity activity every week. Moderate-intensity activity can include any activity of 3 to 6 METsTrusted Source.

Brisk walking is an excellent way of sticking to these guidelines. Unlike some other types of activity, walking is generally free and accessible to people who are able to do so. It is a relatively low-intensity form of exercise, so it is suitable for people who are unable to engage in more vigorous forms of exercise.

Walking is also easy to fit into a typical day for most people. For example, walking to work or taking a walk during a lunch break for 30 minutes every day will lead to at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.

Regularly walking at a brisk pace can have many health benefits, includingTrusted Source:

• lowering blood pressure
• reducing high cholesterol
• reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes
• strengthening bones and muscles
• improving fitness

Takeaway

• In addition to physical health benefits, increasing physical activity through walking may also benefit mental health. Research has found that physical activity could be beneficial for a range of mental health conditions, including anxietyTrusted Source and depression.

  Walking is a beneficial way to burn calories — the amount each person burns depends on their age, sex, and how rapidly they walk. Moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, can provide a range of health benefits.

• Source - Medical News Today