ARTE accompanied the head of the project, Dr. Birgit Böhm from the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, and her Research Associate, Laura Eisenberger, during one such mapping activity. In addition to describing the length, altitude meters, trail characteristics and duration, the cardiovascular stress intensities on the hiking trails are also logged and marked.
On site in the foothills of the Alps, in Aschau am Chiemgau, Dr. Böhm is currently conducting research on a hiking trail. Therefore, various test subjects have been recruited to go hiking with medical measuring devices. "Walking is in the nature of humans. We do it intuitively from infancy. Children have the need to walk around and as we grow up we suppress this need more and more," says Dr. Böhm about the development of physical activity in the process of aging.
The "miracle cure" of walking counteracts the problem of the population's lack of physical activity. "Sitting is the new smoking. Too little physical activity can have serious health consequences. Even small units of regular walking can help against this," warns Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz, Dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences and head of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics.
Daily walking treats both the body and the mind. With it comes protection from disease, increased brain power and greater feelings of happiness. Accordingly, the daily walk is good for the whole body. It promotes the oxygen turnover in the whole organism and thus increases the efficiency of the heart. In addition, walking strengthens the blood vessels, builds muscles and nourishes the joints.
However, for watching the ARTE documentary about the importance of walking for the body, an exception to sitting is given. The documentary will also be available in the ARTE media library.
To the program preview of the ARTE report from June 4 at 10 PM
To the homepage of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
To the homepage of the "Connect2Move" project
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
Dean Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24601
e-mail: renate.oberhoffer(at)tum.de
Dr. Birgit Böhm
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24576
e-mail: birgit.boehm(at)tum.de
Text: Jessica Flaster
Photos: Frédérique Veith/ARTE