Don’t Walk With Your Partner If You Want Maximum Exercise Benefits

Men walk faster than women (because they tend to be taller). So what happens when both sexes amble together? A new research study suggests that men will slow down their walking speed, but only when walking with their main squeeze.

picture from Shutterstock

A study published in PLOS One examined the walking speeds of 11 males and 11 females, walking together in various combinations. The researchers found that men slowed down their speed to match the walking speed of their female romantic partners, but didn’t adjust in other circumstances.

The lesson? If you’re a male and want your walking to burn the maximum amount of energy, walking with your partner may not be the way to do. That said, walking is beneficial exercise, and we wouldn’t want to discourage people from doing it, whatever the circumstances.

Energetic Consequences of Human Sociality: Walking Speed Choices among Friendly Dyads [PLOS One]


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