*There are valid reasons why walking is the most commonly recommended form of exercise and cardio.
A) It is VERY convenient! All you need is a pair of shoes! There is a low economic and time commitment barrier with walking. If you have 20 minutes of spare time you can walk out your front door and get fit!
B) Walking also applies less impact forces to our joints, especially the ankle, knee and hips. Over time runners experience wear and tear injuries that are less common in casual walkers.
HOWEVER, this applies to people with general fitness goals such as shedding unwanted fat and improving fitness levels. What about lean mass? Improving a sports skill? Improving your body composition?
Training safely with resistance that still maintains an elevated heart rate while improving lean mass and shedding fat may be the ultimate choice! The caveat? It requires equipment and a more structured approach to exercise that discourages many people.
Walking may not be the BEST for TOTAL body health and fitness, but it certainly is the most convenient!
SOURCE:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0268003395000682
