Genome-wide association study of self-reported walking pace suggests beneficial effects of brisk walking on health and survival

Walking is a simple form of exercise, widely promoted for its health benefits. Self-reported walking pace has been associated with a range of cardiorespiratory and cancer outcomes, and is a strong predictor of mortality. Here we perform a genome-wide association study of self-reported walking pace in 450,967 European ancestry UK Biobank participants. We identify 70 independent associated loci (P<5x10(-8)), 11 of which are novel. We estimate the SNP-based heritability as 13.2% (s.e.=0.21%), reducing to 8.9% (s.e.=0.17%) with adjustment for body mass index. Significant genetic correlations are observed with cardiometabolic, respiratory and psychiatric traits, educational attainment and all-cause mortality. Mendelian randomization analyses suggest a potential causal link of increasing walking pace with a lower cardiometabolic risk profile. Given its low heritability and simple measurement, these findings suggest that self-reported walking pace is a pragmatic target for interventions aiming for general benefits on health. Iain Timmins et al. identify 70 loci associated with self-reported walking pace in the UK Biobank. Using Mendelian randomization, they find evidence for a causal link between increased walking pace and lower cardiometabolic risk profile, which combined with a low estimated heritability, suggests self-reported walking pace could be a target for healthcare intervention.