Purdue offering free walking program to get Hoosiers healthy | Get Healthy
Regular physical activity, such as walking, can lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, and falls in older adults.
While spring temperatures may seem far away, they’re just around the corner. For organizers of a walking program, that means opportunities to get out and enjoy the fresh air while getting fit.
The Get WalkIN program, developed by Purdue Extension and the School of Nursing, is a free, email-based walking program that offers participants the opportunity to receive support to help them reach their fitness goals. The program kicks off May 3, and participants must register by April 30.
“Being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and yet so many people put off being active day after day,” Purdue Extension Porter County Educator Annetta Jones said. “Then one day they receive information that they have a health problem. At that moment, they are ready to make a positive change and they are motivated to move.”
The program’s developers wanted to offer a flexible program that individuals could start and participate in at their convenience as a way to adopt a healthy lifestyle habit, she said.
Here’s how the program works. The Get WalkIN program is available through most Purdue Extension offices and those interested can register with any office to participate. Once signed up, individuals walk on their own and will receive consistent emailed support and information. Residents must be 18 or older to participate.
