Is walking on a treadmill with an incline bad when you are overweight?

A study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise indicates that it's safer for an overweight person to walk on an inclined treadmill than on level ground. A slower pace and increased incline protects joints in the knees and hips by reducing the impact of the motion's joint pressure.

The purpose of exercise is not only to lose weight but also to improve the cardiovascular system. The study has also indicated that using an incline treadmill and a slow pace maintains the equivalent cardiovascular benefit that is observed when moving at a faster pace on a flat surfaced treadmill.