Physical activity has long been celebrated as a fundamental element of a healthy lifestyle, with national guidelines advocating for a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week. However, the proliferation of wearable fitness devices has prompted many individuals to concentrate more on monitoring their step counts, striving for the widely-recognized 10,000-step target. Yet, which metric is a superior indicator of overall well-being – the duration of your workout or the number of steps you take each day?
According to Dr. Rikuta Hamaya, a preventive-medicine researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the primary author of a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, both step count and workout duration are valuable metrics for evaluating physical activity. In order to ascertain if one metric outweighs the other, the study conducted a thorough comparison of the two.
The study examined data from over 14,000 U.S. women, all of whom were at least 62 years of age and were without cardiovascular disease and cancer at the outset of the research. Participants were requested to wear an activity monitor for a week, only removing it to sleep, shower, or swim. The collected data enabled researchers to calculate the daily number of steps taken, as well as the amount of time spent engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity such as cycling, jogging, or brisk walking.
The findings revealed that while individuals who engaged in greater levels of vigorous exercise also tended to take more steps, the two measures were not perfectly aligned. This is partly due to the fact that slower forms of walking, such as ambulating around the house, may not register as moderate-to-vigorous activity on a fitness monitor, yet still contribute to the overall step count.
In terms of which metric proved to be superior, the study determined that both step count and workout duration were equally effective. Irrespective of how physical activity was gauged, increased movement was connected with enhanced health and longevity. Over the course of the study, around 9% of the women involved passed away, while 4% developed cardiovascular disease. The most active participants were at least 30% less likely to experience these outcomes compared to the most inactive individuals.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that the study exclusively focused on older, predominantly white U.S. women who were in good health at the commencement of the research. Consequently, it is uncertain whether the same conclusions are applicable to other demographic groups. Further research is necessary to establish if younger adults, for instance, may derive greater benefits from vigorous activity.
Notwithstanding this, the study’s findings convey a reassuring message – there is no singular best method of assessing fitness. Individuals are encouraged to pursue whichever benchmark feels most suitable for them, whether it be tracking steps or workout duration. This implies that personal preference plays a pivotal role in sustaining an active lifestyle, and individuals are encouraged to adopt the approach that resonates most with them.
In conclusion, the findings of the study underline the significance of physical activity in promoting overall health and well-being, and indicate that individuals can customize their approach to fitness based on their own preferences. As the research progresses, it is imperative to acknowledge the diverse needs and experiences of all individuals in order to promote and support a more active population.