A Prospective Study of Walking as Compared with Vigorous Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women

In epidemiologic studies, physical activity has been associated with a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease, 1 , 2 but data on women have been sparse. Moreover, the specific role of walking, the most common form of exercise among women, 3 has not been fully elucidated. The most recent federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine, 4 as well as the Surgeon General's report on physical activity and health, 3 endorse at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week, whereas earlier guidelines recommended vigorous . . .