If Delhi looks fit, thank the over-40s

The survey conducted on morning walkers in Delhi and Noida parks found that not only were more people over 40 years exercising, but they were also doing so more regularly.

"This could be because younger people have work and time constraints or could be exercising in other ways, such as working out in the gym," says Dr Ashok Seth, chief cardiologist at Max Heart and Vascular Institute, which got the study done.

The survey also found that most morning walkers were not doing it right. "You need to walk at a certain speed to get cardiovascular benefits that protect the heart, such as brisk walking for 40 minutes or walking on the treadmill at an average speed of 6-7 km/hour," says Dr Seth.

The best indicator for optimal speed for health is trying to talk while walking. "If you can talk easily, you are going too slow. Go at a speed where breathing goes up but you are still able to complete a sentence," says Seth.

When done at the right speed, cardiovascular exercises such as walking and running cuts down the risk of heart disease by 20 per cent.

The survey was done to document health-seeking behaviour of the people in the Capital.