Is walking good for you? Absolutely. But walking with friends or neighbors may offer something extra.
When comparing people who exercise alone with those who exercise with others, research suggests movement plus connection is a particularly powerful combination. Adults who exercised with others more frequently had better self-rated health than those who exercised only on their own, even after accounting for how often they worked out overall.
A separate study of nearly 8,000 adults found that people who exercised with others were more likely to get enough weekly physical activity and reported better mental health than those who exercised alone or didn’t exercise at all. That suggests that companionship doesn’t just feel good in the moment; it may help you stay more active, more consistently.
When those shared workouts take the form of walking groups, the benefits are even clearer. A systematic literature review found that outdoor walking groups improved blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol, fitness and even symptoms of depression, with high participation and almost no adverse effects.
Zooming out, strong social relationships in general are linked to longer life. A landmark meta-analysis from Brigham Young University reported that people with robust social ties had about a 50% higher likelihood of survival over time than those who were more socially isolated.
So, while walking alone is still a wonderful habit, walking with others seems to layer in benefits for mood, motivation and long-term health. A regular neighborhood walk with a friend may be one of the simplest ways to invest in both our bodies and our social lives.
