Summit Prescribes Walking as America's "Wonder Drug"

In an excerpt from the new booklet "Walking As a Way of Life: Movement for Health & Happiness" [PDF], Jay Walljasper discusses the national Walking Summit, a first of its kind event held in October in Washington D.C. where participants espoused the physical, mental, economic benefits of walking.

"The summit was convened by Kaiser Permanente and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative, which includes more than 100 business, government and nonprofit partners," he explains. 

"The 2013 Walking Summit focused on how to encourage more Americans to walk, and how to make communities across the country more walkable. Scott Bricker, executive director of America Walks, a coalition of 470 organizations nationwide, joked that the ultimate goal was to make 'sitting the new smoking.' His ambitious vision for 2020 is that all Americans walk enough each day to enjoy health benefits and that all communities provide a safe, comfortable environment for people to walk."