What we’re about
Santa Barbara’s “JustWalk™” Walk With a Doc walking program started on Thursday, April 10th at 5:45pm. Walkers enjoy a refreshing and rejuvenating walk with Dr. Jennifer Hone, an Endocrinologist, and other healthcare professionals, who will provide support to the walkers and answer questions during the walk.
Walk With a Doc is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country. “This program has had tremendous participation and tremendous success in many other cities around the country,” said Dr Hone. “I’m very pleased to be a part of this exciting and simple program that shows such improved health results for so many people.”
Dr. Hone encourages anyone in the community to join the walk. This is a FREE program and pre-registration is not required.
Why walk? “There’s no question that increasing exercise, even moderately, reduces the risks or many diseases, including coronary heart disease, breast and colon cancer and Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Hone. “Research has even shown that you could gain two hours of life for each hour that you exercise regularly.”
According to the American Heart Association, walking as little as 30 minutes a day can provide these health benefits, as well:
· Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
· Help maintain a healthy body weight and lower the risk of obesity
· Enhance mental well-being
· Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Santa Barbara joins a growing list of communities nationwide that have created local Walk With a Doc (WWAD) programs. WWAD was created by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist who practices at Mount Carmel Health Systems in Columbus, OH and he has been walking every weekend since 2005. The expansion and support of the program is thanks to Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
About Walk With a Doc: WWAD is a non-profit organization that encourages healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country. “Just Walk™” Walk with a Doc has over 100 active programs across the country and around the world. To learn more, go to
www.walkwithadoc.org
.
