Walking for their health
Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your physical, mental, and emotional health, but the program called Walk with the Doctor allows you to do more than just get your legs moving for a better lifestyle. The team, which appears from time to time in the City of Queens, is led by Dr. Borbála Stern, an internist and lifestyle doctor, who provides participants with lifestyle advice on each occasion, so that the events can take place in the spirit of movement, knowledge, and community.
The international history of Walk With A Doc was started more than twenty years ago by American cardiologist David Sabgir, and is now present in forty countries around the world. Walk with Your Doctor was launched in Hungary in 2021 under the auspices of the Hungarian Society for Health Preservation and Lifestyle Medicine (MOTE), but the question arises as to what purpose they were established for. "Mainly so that, in cooperation with sister associations in other countries, the latest evidence would also be available in Hungarian," said Borbála, who is now also the domestic coordinator of the program, as she manages their website, writes applications in the interest of their operation, while maintaining contact with the walk leaders and compiling various statistics. As I learn from her, professional team members include doctors, dieticians, and nutrition experts, who have recognized that many diseases are caused by poor nutrition and lifestyle choices. They believe that traditional medicine alone cannot reduce the number of patients, so it is necessary to treat patients not only symptomatically, but also through lifestyle changes alongside appropriate medication and other therapies – thereby broadening the accepted medical model.
"Our first walk in Hungary took place in November 2021 in Érd, initiated by Dr. Klára Koncz, president of MOTE. Our association held a general meeting in the spring of 2024, after which walks were also launched in our county seat, and by the end of 2024, in six other locations. Last year, we were proud to have 28 locations with more than 3,100 participants – but according to our plans, this number could rise to thirty in the first quarter of this year. I would just like to note in parentheses that our country ranks second in the world in terms of the number of walking locations. The pleasant, four-kilometer walks are led by certified or trainee lifestyle coaches and last for an hour and a half. Thanks to the interest shown, we are successfully expanding. In my hometown of Veszprém, only the weather has been able to put a damper on the program so far: the heat in the summer and in winter, icy, frozen roads, on which the older people who make up the majority of our events could easily have slipped and fallen. We are cautious, as the safety of our patients is paramount. Of course, there are also young people in our programs. Interestingly, only 18 percent of men nationwide are represented in the walks, and the majority of participants are women who want to exercise and socialize. At first, there weren't many of us in Veszprém either – although small gatherings have their own charm – but then we grew in number, and there were times when more than fifty of us set out on a walk. On average, there are twenty to twenty-five of us. It is important how the tour guides manage the events they "celebrate." We also have a Facebook group: "Walk with the Doctor – Veszprém" , where, among other things, we always announce our upcoming meetings, where those interested can also get lifestyle advice. We usually vote on the route, and the green belt, relatively flat, is one of our favorites, but we have also been to the Cholnoky district and the Jutasi Road housing estate."
"My gynecologist tells me that lifestyle medicine is a branch of medicine based on evidence, whose main goal is to prevent, treat, and in some cases reverse chronic diseases related to lifestyle. The therapy is based on the fundamental principles of our lifestyle, such as nutrition, exercise, quality sleep, stress management and emotional well-being, supportive social relationships, and avoiding harmful substances and addictions." Like her colleagues, Borbála, who works alongside her family, recounts that after their brief discussions on health topics (...which always cover different areas), the participants walk at their own pace and chat freely with each other. "In Hungary, these events not only promote exercise, but also provide an opportunity to share knowledge about healthy lifestyles, as well as strengthening social relationships. Participants receive useful advice during enjoyable walks suitable for all age groups, while their companions fill them with new experiences, making it suitable for anyone who wants to do something for themselves and their health. No special equipment or rules are required for this exercise, and people can always listen to interesting topics and important information. The six- to eight-minute talks before the walks always cover a topic related to lifestyle medicine. It is gratifying when patients mention that the advice I gave them earlier has changed their outlook, for example, they eat less, exercise around the house or just on the stairs, or their digestion has improved," says Borbála, who admits that they still have a lot to do, so they welcome any program that encourages residents to improve their health.
Meanwhile, it also turns out that last year, several people from Veszprém took part in Gaja Valley Association's organization of the Iskaszentgyörgy National Walk, and they were also pleased to learn that there was a joint charity event in 2025 with the Veszprém 4 Seasons 5 Competition Sports Club, while in the fall they climbed Rovaniemi steps with Veszprém Hungarian-Finnish Association. – I can also report that BiotechUSA Hungary singled out our health work last year as "the most outstanding innovative activity of the year," and we were also recognized as "specialists" in the HRBEST "Future Leaders" competition.
Experts believe that modern healthcare today knows a lot, but is rarely able to improve quality of life in itself, which of course requires a change in patients' attitudes. The tour guides consider the most difficult task to be changing everyday decisions, which are followed by active action. They can provide assistance in implementation. They believe that the medicine of the future will be practiced when the doctor-patient relationship and communication are elevated to a new level. Walking with the Doctor operates in the spirit of movement, knowledge, and community. As people walk side by side in the same direction, they can ask questions freely and gain useful knowledge about their lifestyle. Those who go on these walks are grateful, as they are strengthened by the knowledge that they have done something for their health again. Those who have not yet participated in such an event should not hesitate to try it once, because they have nothing to lose. Walking is the simplest form of physical activity. It is also a safe form of exercise. According to research, regular exercise can add two hours to your life for every hour you exercise.