I enjoy running. Yet I quite acknowledge that not everybody does, and that some people find it, yes, even disdainful, or are almost apologetic about not liking it.

To which I remind them that there are all sorts of exercises out there; among one of the best, walking. Now I have official proof — a study published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

The study of 33,060 runners and 15,045 walkers, between 18 and 80, most in their 40s and 50s, found that although vigorous running requires a bit more effort from the heart than moderately intense walking, the benefits are almost equal. Some highlights are:

Walking reduced the chances of being diagnosed with hypertension by 7.2 percent; running, by 4.2 percent.

Walking lowered diabetes risk by 12.3 percent; running, by 12.1

Walking reduced high-cholesterol chances by 7 percent; running, by 4.3 percent

And finally, walking lowered the risk of coronary heart disease by 9.3 percent; running, by 4.5 percent.

The study also showed that walkers tend to meet the recommended exercise requirements more than runners do.