Walking is widely known as a great form of exercise for all age groups. But where are the facts to back this up? We compiled some of the most interesting walking facts you may or may not know.

• Walking an extra twenty or so minutes every day will burn off around half a stone (7 pounds) of body fat per year. 
• 25% of all journeys in Great Britain are made entirely on foot
• The most popular reason for walking is to go shopping (23%), followed by personal business or accompanying another person (21%) and leisure or social purposes (20%) (DfT 2003)
• The average person takes 2,000 steps per mile.
• Although 41% of all trips made in the United States are two miles or less, fewer than 10% of all trips are made by walking and biking.
• Only about 15% of children walk or bike to school today compared with 50% of children in 1969
• Walking prevents type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes per week and losing just 7% of your body weight (12-15 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58%.
• It is as dangerous for your heart to take no exercise as it is to smoke 20 cigarettes a day
• Walking for one mile burns exactly as many calories as jogging for one mile, it just takes longer
• Walking is as effective in helping those with mild depression as anti-depressant medication
• The school run costs families on average £300 a year in petrol and car maintenance. Walking there and back could be good for you bank balance as well as your heart!
• The average time taken to walk 1 mile is 15-20 minutes.
• You are 36 times more likely to be killed walking than driving a car