Can walking be my whole workout?

Stepping outside for a brisk walk can bring significant health benefits. Walking has been linked to improved blood pressure, better mental health and lower risks of falls, cardiovascular disease and dementia. It is also an accessible way to get moving that many people can fit in while taking out the dog or commuting to work.

But while walking is almost universally considered good physical activity, it is not necessarily great exercise, said exercise physiologist and assistant professor of exercise science Alex Rothstein at the New York Institute of Technology School of Health Professions.