An electronic device may: set a target heart rate for a user wearing a wearable device (e.g., walking assist device); receive information of the user's current heart rate; determine, on the basis of the current heart rate and the target heart rate, target exercise load such that the user's heart rate can correspond to the target heart rate; and control the wearable device such that the target exercise load is provided to the user. Various other embodiments may also be possible.