Brisk walking 15 minutes a day cuts mortality risk, health experts say

Health officials in Indonesia are highlighting recent research that shows brisk walking for just 15 minutes each day can significantly improve health outcomes. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, led by Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, followed about 85,000 participants aged 40‑79 in the United States and found that walking at a fast pace reduced overall mortality risk by up to 19%. The benefit was strongest for cardiovascular deaths, with a roughly 20% lower risk among those who walked briskly for more than an hour daily.

The findings are being promoted alongside other lifestyle recommendations, such as getting morning sunlight and maintaining regular physical activity, as part of a broader effort to curb chronic diseases like stroke, diabetes and hypertension that account for the majority of deaths in Indonesia.