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It's safe to say the correlation between being overweight and having health issues is becoming more apparent each week.

On Friday, researchers announced findings that breast cancer patients who were overweight or obese were more likely to die from the disease than others.

Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center led the study and said the aggressiveness of the cancer increased the more obese a patient was. Cristofanilli said fat tissue might increase inflammation and lead to more aggression in the cancer.

In past columns, I've tried to highlight the problems of obesity in the United States., but another story I read gave me a better idea - the virtues of walking.

The story was on MSNBC's Web site and explained how members of the Janssen family suffered from weight problems started walking together. After losing a brother and a sister to weight-related health problems. the remaining siblings and their families set a goal to walk a marathon.

After training and completing the marathon, the Janssen's lost a combined 191 pounds and are healthier than ever.

Walking is one of the most ideal routines to adopt to help lose weight for two reasons. First, there is no special equipment required. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes. No weights, fancy pants or expensive machinery is necessary.

Another advantage of walking is it can be done anywhere. There are no memberships or special cards needed to walk. Just two feet and a stretch of road, mall or grass field.

Living in Carbondale, walking can easily be adapted to everyday life. The town is conveniently small, with most of the living and shopping arrangements within about two square miles. This means almost every store or shop is within walking distance.

The weather is not always accommodating. However, on days with sun, or at least a lack of rain or sleet, there's no reason a brisk walk couldn't take you where you need to go.

Along with the ease of walking about town, the nearby lakes and forests offer good walking paths as well. Trails throughout Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park offer exceptional scenery for hikers.

For people who need a little help in the motivation department, walking is easy to do with friends and family. It offers a chance to spend time together and talk while getting in shape.

If there is a lack of human companions, getting a high-energy dog might be in order. There's nothing like a 60-pound black lab to help tug you along the streets on a daily basis.

Walking is the ideal activity for people who want to shed some pounds and control their health. Not all of us like working out in gyms, lifting weights or stretching along yoga mats. We all walk though, at least to some degree. Increasing that amount to a mile or two a day could make a big difference.

Wenger is a senior studying

Spanish and journalism.

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