A new health initiative is aiming to get Irish people off their sofas, as research shows that walking for just 30 minutes per day improves both physical and mental health.

The initiative has been launched by Get Ireland Walking and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and it involves a ‘21 Day Walking Challenge'.

Research has shown that walking for at least 30 minutes each day improves mental health, blood pressure levels and blood sugar levels. It also reduces the overall risk of heart disease and helps to maintain a normal body weight, reducing the risk of obesity.

As part of the initiative, people can pick up their '21 Day Walking Challenge' record card in their local pharmacy, which will help them keep track of how much walking they are doing each day.

"Exercise to help your physical and mental wellbeing does not need to be complicated and a simple walk every day can help people live a healthier life. By including walking in your daily routine, you can prevent or manage various conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes," commented Bernard Duggan of the IPU.

Meanwhile, according to Get Ireland Walking's Grainne Quinn, walking is the ‘most accessible and straightforward daily activity for improving health and wellbeing'.

"All people have to do is establish a regular walking habit to discover the many benefits from walking and the ‘21 Day Walking Challenge' aims to kick start people into doing just that," she said.

Get Ireland Walking is funded by the Government's national framework for better health, Healthy Ireland, and the Irish Sports Council. It is also supported by a number of organisations, including the Irish Heart Foundation, Arthritis Ireland and the GAA.