Walking speed can show your risk of metabolic syndrome, study finds

Walking speed isn’t just about how quickly you move from one place to another—it can reveal vital information about your health.

Often referred to as the “sixth vital sign,” walking speed has been linked to overall health, with slower speeds associated with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in older adults.

A recent study from Kyoto, Japan, has uncovered how subjective walking speed—the way people perceive their pace compared to others—might help predict the risk of metabolic diseases, particularly in individuals with obesity.

Led by Professor Kojiro Ishii from Doshisha University, along with a team of researchers, the study was published in Scientific Reports on November 15, 2024.

The study involved over 8,500 individuals with obesity, nearly 10,000 with high waist circumference, and over 6,700 meeting both criteria.

Participants answered a single question in a health survey: “Is your walking speed faster than that of your age and sex?” Based on their responses, they were categorized as either “fast” or “slow” walkers.

The findings were striking. Individuals with obesity who reported being fast walkers had a 30% lower risk of diabetes and smaller but still meaningful reductions in the risks of hypertension and dyslipidemia compared to those who considered themselves slow walkers.

“This study clarified that even individuals with obesity, who are already at higher risk for metabolic diseases, have significantly lower odds of these conditions if they report a faster walking speed,” noted Prof. Ishii.

What makes this approach unique is its simplicity. Unlike objective walking speed, which requires equipment, time, and space to measure, subjective walking speed is self-reported and easily incorporated into health questionnaires.

In Japan, this method is already part of standardized health checkups, aligning with the country’s focus on screening for metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Researchers believe the link between walking speed and health lies in cardiorespiratory fitness. Faster walkers often have better cardiovascular health and lower levels of inflammation and oxidative stress—factors closely tied to metabolic diseases.

Encouraging individuals to walk faster, even if subjectively, could help prevent what researchers call the “metabolic domino effect,” where obesity leads to other lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even dementia.

The simplicity of asking, “Is your walking speed faster than your peers?” could help identify high-risk individuals without the need for expensive or time-consuming tests. This question could revolutionize public health by making early detection and prevention of metabolic diseases more accessible.

While the study was cross-sectional, meaning it could not establish direct causation, it supports previous findings on the health benefits of a brisk walking pace. The researchers hope future long-term studies will confirm these results and explore the mechanisms behind them in more detail.

“Promoting a faster walking pace may be a helpful individual behavior to prevent metabolic diseases, particularly in individuals with obesity,” Prof. Ishii emphasized.

This research highlights how a simple question and a small change in behavior could lead to significant health improvements, helping individuals take control of their health and reduce the burden of metabolic diseases worldwide.

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The research findings can be found in Scientific Reports.