COVID-19 lockdowns have sparked a national walking revolution, according to the Heart Foundation.
With gyms closed across the country, more than 100,000 Australians have signed up for the health charity's new Personal Walking Plan.
And with over 2300 of them surveyed about the benefits, they've overwhelmingly declared an improvement to their wellbeing.
Some 97 per cent say they feel the program is important to their physical wellness, 90 per cent to their mental health and 65 per cent to their social wellbeing.
Around 86 per cent of respondents say the plan has helped them reach goals they set when registering including losing weight, getting fitter, being more motivated, having more energy and feeling better about themselves.
Before joining the program, about 20 per cent did the recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise on five or more days a week. By the end of their participation, the proportion had jumped to 48 per cent.
Those doing the recommended two days a week increased from 26 per cent to 67 per cent.
Of the participants who did no previous exercise, almost a third were meeting guidelines for general activity by the time they finished and six-in-10 were doing the recommended amount of strength training.
Participants in the six-week program receive a walking plan tailored to their fitness levels delivered via weekly emails and SMS.
An average of about 700 Australians have signed up daily, with the 100,000th doing so last week.
Ninety-nine per cent of those who have completed the plan say they'll continue walking or physical activity.
Heart Foundation Director of Active Living Trevor Shilton believes the pandemic has been a factor in Australians embracing the plan.
While physical fitness and heart health goals are important, getting out of the house, reducing stress levels, reconnecting with others and exploring local communities have also motivated people, he says.
"This is a step in the right direction for Australia," Prof Shilton added.
"Despite all our medals at the recent Olympic Games and our international image as a sport-loving nation, the sad fact is that around one-in-two Australian adults are not active enough for good heart health.
Prof Shilton says physical inactivity is undoubtedly a key factor in heart disease, which takes 50 Australian lives each day, or one every 30 minutes.
"Walking for an average of 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of not only heart disease but also stroke, diabetes, dementia and some cancers," he said.
"It can also help maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. That's why we often call walking a 'wonder drug'. If it were a medicine, we would all be taking it daily for longer, healthier, happier lives."
