Walking 10,000 steps daily can enhance overall health, particularly for individuals with a sedentary lifestyle. However, research has shown that different age groups may require varying step counts for optimal benefits.
Offsetting Sedentary Risks With Daily Steps
In March 2024, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study involving more than 70,000 participants with an average age of 61. The researchers used smart wristbands to monitor their daily sedentary time and steps, revealing an average of 6,222 steps per day.Over a follow-up period of about 7 years, researchers found that for individuals who sat for more than 10.5 hours per day, walking 9,000 to 10,000 steps daily reduced their risk of mortality by 39 percent and the incidence of cardiovascular disease by 21 percent. Walking 10,000 steps a day is particularly important for sedentary individuals, as it can offset the negative impacts of prolonged sitting.
