The Department of Health is urging South Dakotans to slip on their walking shoes and get active. Experts say walking for just 20 minutes per day is one of the most accessible ways to reduce health risks and improve quality of life.
The Department of Health campaign promoting South Dakotans to walk more is in full swing. The Healthy SD Trails campaign began June 1 and runs until September 30, encouraging people to walk 15 to 20 minutes a day. The DOH promotes awareness of walking’s accessibility for all ages and places.
Kiley Hump is with the Department of Health. She says the program was inspired by the Surgeon General’s call to action for increased physical activity.
“We know that walking really decreases a lot of chronic conditions, we’re always looking through the different Chronic Disease programs to reduce chronic conditions in any way possible, so we’re hoping with this campaign to really jumpstart some people to get them walking more," says Hump.
Hump says the campaign has been very popular. She says right now slightly more than half of South Dakotans get enough exercise. Hump says that each month a prize winner is chosen through photos submitted online using the hashtag #WalktoWinSD.