Take simple walking test to figure out 'how well you're ageing'

Take simple walking test to figure out 'how well you're ageing' The results give people a general idea of how their health was shaping up GP registrar Dr Jack Mosely claims that a "surprisingly simple test" could indicate how well people are ageing. He says it takes just seconds to complete the test, which can be done at home with no equipment other than a timer. Dr Jack Mosely is a Sunday Times bestselling author and weight-loss management expert. He is also the son of the late broadcaster and TV doctor Michael Mosley. Explaining what the test is and how to do it, the health expert took to Instagram to say: "A fascinating study found that walking speed was strongly associated with participants' risk of dying over the next 10 years." In the Instagram video, Dr Jack Mosely's mother, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, demonstrated the test by timing a short distance, which took only seconds to complete. The test involves walking at a normal pace over a distance of four metres. People are urged to time themselves to see how long it takes them to complete the task. How does the test work? On average, most people take about five seconds to cover the distance. Anything under this is considered "doing very well", while more than six seconds to complete the walk suggests that the person "may have a slightly slower walk". People who take longer should not immediately worry about it, as regular checks should provide a clearer picture of health. Dr Jack Mosely explained in his video that the test provides a baseline that can help roughly forecast how age-related conditions may affect mobility. Dr Jack Mosely added: "A 2007 study found that what may be even more important than your walking speed is whether you improved your walking speed. It found that those who improved their walking speed over a one-year period were much less likely to die over the next eight years. "To improve your speed, turn walking into a regular habit. If you struggle to get motivated, a dog can keep you young and fit!" What are the health benefits of walking? According to the NHS website, there are plenty of perks to walking more, if you can. The health service claims that walking is "one of the easiest ways to get more active" - as well as being a "simple and free" way to "become healthier". The website adds: "You do not have to walk for hours. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise, as recommended in the physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64." The NHS says that people who do regular physical activity have a lower risk of: - coronary heart disease and stroke - type 2 diabetes - bowel cancer - breast cancer in women - early death - osteoarthritis - hip fracture - falls (among older adults) - depression - dementia, including Alzheimer's disease