The NYT article by Gretchen Reynolds about the importance of walking as a key tool for health is misleading. While any kind of movement is better than sitting in a chair all day, there is a big difference between walking around and gardening versus a dedicated fitness program.
My proof: there are plenty of fat people who garden and take walks, but there are no fat people who are consistently engaging in a fitness program (i.e., running, lifting weights, swimming, crossfit, etc.). They may be overweight (especially if they have just started or have not locked down their diet yet) but they are on a road which will lead to true health and fitness.
And they are not walking down that road with a soda in their hand for just 20 minutes a day…
Mondo 