Walking: The Underrated Fat-Burning Habit for Over 50s

• Belly fat, especially visceral fat, increases after 50 due to metabolic slowdown, muscle loss, and hormonal changes, posing health risks like insulin resistance and heart disease.
• Dr. Narendra K Shetty and Dr. Isaac Mathai emphasize that walking effectively targets both visceral and subcutaneous belly fat, even without extreme weight loss.
• Research shows consistent walking improves body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and inflammation markers in older adults, particularly postmenopausal women.
• Walking creates a calorie deficit, boosts metabolism, stimulates lipolysis, improves insulin sensitivity, and lowers cortisol, aiding fat loss.
• Experts recommend 30-60 minutes of brisk walking, 3-7 days a week, emphasizing consistency over intensity, and suggest pairing it with light strength training.

Why It Matters: Regular walking is a sustainable and effective way to reduce harmful belly fat and improve metabolic health after 50.