The exact number of steps you need to take each day to live longer – and you can stop aiming for 10,000
The SunAug 09, 2023
According to a study published Tuesday in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, walking just 4K steps a day could reduce the risk of dying prematurely from any cause.
A team of researchers from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US drew on data from 17 previous studies involving 226,889 participants.
Millions of fitness tracking devices have been sold worldwide as lifestyle companions reminding health-conscious people that taking 10K steps per day is essential to reap health benefits. However, this study may come as a breath of relief for millions of people for whom 10K steps can feel far-fetched and defeating. Trying to walk about 4K steps a day consistently can improve their health, and any slight increase in step counts every day will likely enhance their longevity.
This was an observational study, which is why its suggestions need to be confirmed in larger groups of people to prove that walking less than 4K steps per day could cause a reduction in the risk of death. Moreover, the impact of socioeconomic status and the methods for counting steps differed in all the studies included in the meta-analysis. Instead of focusing solely on step counts, lifestyle changes could also be emphasized in reducing cardiovascular risk and prolonging lives.
There's a 50% chance that at least 70% of Americans will be obese or overweight in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.