Everyone should walk 10,000 or more steps a day to stay fit, says an expert at Aspetar.
Abdullah Saeed al-Mohannadi, Health Promotion Researcher, gave the health tip at a awards event on September 3, where winners of the Aspetar’s Ramadan walking competition were picked.
The competitions were part of the hospital’s ‘Step into Health’ (SIH) programme.
Al-Mohannadi said fasting during the summer heat could be very demanding on some people.
“The act of fasting can also discourage people from exercising in order to conserve energy. We actively promoted this competition before Ramadan in order to encourage people to stay fit,” he said .
He commended the winners and hoped they would serve as an example to the community.
“Everyone should be motivated to walk 10,000 or more steps a day as walking really is a fantastic way to stay fit,” he said.
The first Ramadan competition was specifically open to ‘Step into Health’ members. Participants were encouraged to walk 10,000 steps a day for the entire month. A combined total of over 417mn steps were taken by all SIH members during Ramadan, with approximately 500 members averaging 10,000 steps or more a day.
Talal Abdulla al-Ansari said: “Aspetar’s Ramadan walking programme is an excellent initiative; it helped me take that first step of actually going outside and walking. Over the course of the competition, I not only lost weight, but I have managed to keep it off, too. Using the complimentary pedometer on a daily basis and uploading my results every two weeks helped me stay motivated.”
The second competition was open to the whole community and took place at Aspire Dome. Participants were also given pedometers to record their steps and to keep track of their progress.
Furthermore, 16 additional prizes were handed out by Aspetar during the ceremony. Awards were given to the top walkers who had averaged 10,000 steps or more for the last 18 months, with some members taking between 12,000 and 60,000 steps a day.
The winners included a Qatari resident, 29, who walked over 19 months at an average of 20,000 steps a day.
As a long-term member of ‘Step into Health’, Abdullah Muftah al-Khulaifi praised the initiative: “I have been a member of the programme since its launch in 2012. I really enjoy walking; I think it is a great form of exercise. I have seen a noticeable difference in my fitness levels as well as my overall health since I joined.”
The award ceremony, organised by the Healthy Lifestyle Department at Aspetar, took place at the hospital and was attended by a number of senior officials.