The NHS Will Give Rewards To People Who Walk 30 Mins A Day

You probably already know that walking is really, really good for us, but you might not be aware just how little you have to stroll to see some benefits.

As few as 2,337 steps a day can lower your risk of dying from heart-related health conditions, including heart attack and stroke. Even a quarter of an hour’s stroll a day works wonders for our health.

No wonder the NHS previously called the activity “overlooked”.

And starting in 2027, NHS England will begin offering rewards for those who manage to go for a roughly half-hour-long stroll once a day for a month.

The program, called “marathon a month” or Movement 26.2, will give those who log 42.195 km a month incentives.

It’s the result of the government’s 10-year health plan for England.

The marathon a month scheme has been developed with Sir Brendan Foster, a former Olympic medallist.

Sir Foster said: “I’m known for running, but the ambition here is far simpler. We just want people to walk. Simple,” the BBC reported.

He also stated, “The WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. We realised that adds up to roughly the distance of a marathon every month.”

The 10-year health plan claims physical inactivity costs the NHS £10.5 billion a year.

It’s hoped that the walking scheme will attract 100,000 users in a single month in 2027.

It’s expected to begin early next year.

So far, it looks like Movement 26.2 is about your overall monthly walking distance. You likely won’t have to keep up a streak every single day, though Sir Forster said the program will tap into the mentality behind e.g. Snapchat streaks.

“If someone walks 30 minutes five times a week, they could gain up to four extra years of healthy life,” he said.

You will need to log your miles via a smartphone or smartwatch. It’ll be officiated by the NHS Points Scheme.

Sir Foster said that the rewards will start off digital, but will eventually become more material.

“Initially there’ll be digital rewards, like keeping a streak going for three months. Over time, there’ll be other kinds of rewards – medals, T-shirts, but also discounts and rewards,” he claimed.