Are 10,000 steps a day really necessary for a healthy lifestyle? According to new research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the optimal number may be much lower than we thought. The study, which analyzed 17 studies and 227,000 subjects, found that a higher step count could increase lifespan. Surprisingly, a significant reduction in all-cause mortality was seen at just 4,000 steps per day – less than half of what we’ve been told – and up to at least 12,000 per day. In fact, the research even reported big advantages for longevity from just 1,000 or even 500 steps. 500 steps daily were associated with a 7% decreased mortality risk from cardiovascular reasons, and every 1,000 steps resulted in a 15% decrease from all causes. It’s quite eye-opening, isn’t it?
However, it’s important to take this study with a pinch of salt. There may be a reverse causality: since healthier people are generally more active, it may be a healthy lifestyle that increases your step count, and thereby the aforementioned benefits for your health, rather than vice versa. An increased step count may also be a by-product of exercise or movement in general, such as cardio. This means that exercise may decrease the importance of your step count, since you already experience the health benefits from the activity you’re doing.
Another interesting point from the study is that breaking up long periods of sedentary time may be more important; ten lots of 1,000 steps daily may be better than one unbroken 10,000 step session followed by a Netflix binge. So, it seems that incorporating movement into your daily life, such as cycling or running to work, plus good nutrition, may be a more rewarding strategy than rigidly aiming for 10k – or 4k – steps daily. It’s refreshing to know that just 4,000 steps could bring about big benefits, right?
+ There are no comments
Add yours