Walking for Metabolic Health

The poor chronic health of most people in our modern societies isn’t caused by a lack of medical care. The cause is more fundamental it’s poor self maintenance. The big question both the public and our political leaders avoid, is why is this happening and how do we fix it?

I’ve spoken before about the elephant in the room, our inability to honestly talk about our poor health. You can see it if you know what to look for, shapeless ankles, puffy faces, jaw-lines with no definition, excessive waist and hip measures, are obvious clues. But not always, there are also some slim people, who don’t look unhealthy, but are carrying a significant health burden.

Today, we should all know, that the old method of weight control, counting calories usually leads to constantly feeling hungry, so losing weight is a struggle against the temptation to eat, which can be resisted for a few weeks, or months, but eventually the desire to eat more always wins. It’s NOT your fault. The official advice you have been given is wrong. The faulty thinking and method is still being promoted by many doctors and dieticians. Some ideas are hard to kill.

In May 2025, at the Public Health Collaboration Conference in the UK, where alternative methods of developing health were discussed, there was general agreement that Insulin Resistance was a critical target, and that a healthy diet in a modern community needs to do more than give you calories, vitamins and minerals. It also needs to control and suppress the excessive production of insulin.

There was a panel discussion about the difficulty of getting this message out, firstly to the medical professionals, dieticians and public health officials. The health guidelines across the English speaking world in particular, have followed the mode set in the USA, and are at best unhelpful, better described as wrong. But they have stood for 40 or more years, and are difficult to change.

Both the Public Health Collaboration in the UK and the Noakes Foundation in South Africa, have struggled to scale-up the better health message to the general population. Where they have worked closely with local groups, often with the help of a local GP, the new understanding of how to promote improved metabolic health has been very successful. But in South Africa for instance they were declined official support because “Metabolic Health is a higher level goal.”

This 22 minute video gives you a good understanding of the science behind Insulin Resistance. Controlling blood glucose is not enough. You need to control insulin production.

What is Metabolic health? What does it mean to be healthy? How do you know if you, yourself are unhealthy?

How do you “LOOK”?

Do you have shapeless ankles, a puffy face, a jaw-line with no definition, accumulated fat under your chin, or on your upper arms, excessive waist and hip measurement. These are obvious clues.

What can you “DO”?

Can you tie your shoe laces? Cut your own toenails? Get down and up off the floor without support? Can you run 50 metres? Can you balance on one leg while you put on a sock? If you struggle with any of these, you need to ask yourself “Why”?

Simple physical tasks that you can no longer do, are a potent signal that you need to take charge of your future health. One day, one day soon, you should write a Plan for you Own Better Health. But for today test yourself. Can you walk 600 metres in six minutes?

Six Minute Walk

First, of all you need to know, even roughly, how far 600 meters is. You might use your car odometer or your e-bike to give you a rough idea. You might also have a cell phone app with GPS that will allow you to measure the distance.

Second, you need a timer. A watch or your phone will do. You can set the alarm on your phone for six minutes, if you like. Go to the start point, walk briskly, elbows bent, keep it up until the alarm goes off. Is 600 metres still ahead, or behind you now? That’s not easy, but is should be doable, especially once you practice it a few times.

If you struggle to do any of the things listed above, you need to know why? You will know yourself what the problems are. Maybe it’s medical, but for more likely it’s just a lifestyle issue.

JUST A LIFESTYLE ISSUE.

It’s never quite that easy, but if you consult a health coach, or go to a gym, or join a sports club you should be able to get assistance with a dietary plan, and an exercise plan to build your strength and your speed.

It’s entirely up to you. In the next post, I’ll explain how to take this idea to the next level. I’ll show you how to choose a place to measure and mark a 600 metre walk on a footpath near your house.