The 8th annual event sponsored by the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign will be a month long international event held October 2017. This years event will be a “WALK-RUN-RIDE” program helping to raise Gastroparesis Awareness.
Walking has immediate benefits for GPs patients like:
- Moderate exercise has been found to increase the rate of gastric emptying. (Strenuous exercise, however, actually slows gastric emptying.)
- Exercise stimulates your appetite.
- Studies have shown that consistent exercise increases energy levels, even among those with chronic medical conditions.
- Exercise has been found to reduce anxiety up to 20% in patients with chronic medical conditions.
- Some GPers worry that daily physical activity will exacerbate weight loss. Turns out moderate exercise (like walking) does not automatically lead to weight loss and, for the reasons listed above, may actually help people gain weight.
However the duration of walking can vary from one individual to another, If you’re currently sedentary, start with a short walk after each meal to alleviate symptoms of fullness . Regular ones can hit the treadmill for an hour each morning, as it kickstarts their appetite and gives them more energy.
Note:
A post-meal walk can aid in digestion. One study in 2008 showed that walking sped the rate at which food moved through the stomach. Other studies have shown that walking also decreases blood sugar after meals, which decreases cardiovascular risk and potential signal diabetes. Essentially, walking after a meal clears glucose from the bloodstream to lower blood sugar, and helps move food through your system quicker. Which is to say: that old suggestion to take a walk after a meal really is beneficial.
