To Get in Shape, Walk with a Doc

Off the Couch: If you need motivation to exercise, consider Walk With a Doc. The nonprofit program has 148 chapters, mostly in the U.S., offering free 30- to 45-minute doctor-led walks in parks and malls. The goal: to encourage people to get the 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most Walk With a Doc chapters have weekly walks, often on Saturday mornings. David Sabgir, the Westerville, Ohio, cardiologist who started the program, says he usually gives a short talk (topics have included fish oil and caffeine), checks participants' blood pressure and distributes pedometers.