New research has highlighted once again that there is no need to take the canonical 10.000 steps. Let's find out why.
Walking is an excellent way to stay in top shape, as it reduces the risk of health problems, but according to new research, the number of steps to take each day may not be 10.000. (Read also: Walking: How many steps a day do you have to take if you are over 60 to increase longevity? Forget the 10.000)
The study found that the popular myth that you have to travel at least 8km and 10.000 steps to get health benefits is absolutely unfounded. Research from the University of Massachusetts found that taking between 6.000 and 8.000 steps a day is enough to live longer.
A systematic review
In the study, the team divided the adults into four separate groups based on their average daily steps; the lowest group of steps walked about 3.500 steps, while the second had an average of 5.800. The third about 7.800 and the fourth about 10.900 steps.
Once the researchers selected the participants based on age, they found that the risk of premature death for the 60+ age group had stabilized between 6.000 and 8.000 steps. While, for people under the age of 60 the risk decreased between 8.000 to 10.000 steps per day.
The study concluded that walking between 6.000 and 8.000 steps already reduces the risk of premature death for people aged 60 and over. The research team looked at over 15 studies, and saw how walking affects the mortality of nearly 50.000 people.
They concluded that taking more than 8.000 steps a day actually adds no benefit. Interestingly, the research did not find a definitive association with the walking speed, in addition to the total number of steps per day.
Study author Dr Amanda Paluch explained:
What we saw was this incremental risk reduction as steps increased, until it leveled off and the leveling occurred at different pace values for older adults versus younger ones.
The researchers also revealed that the infamous 10.000 steps a day weren't based on any scientific facts, in fact it was simply marketing; in fact, the myth of the 10.000 steps was used in one Japanese advertising campaign of 1964 to sell pedometers.
So, having established that you don't need to take 10.000 steps a day to feel good, it is important to emphasize that moving even just a little, avoiding spending too much time sitting down, brings enormous health benefits.
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Photos: PubMed
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