Walking 4,000 Steps per Day Cuts Mortality, Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Women: Study

One to two days of the activity in a week is enough to achieve significant health benefits, a peer-reviewed study found.

There are many benefits to walking regularly, from weight loss to lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Shutterstock

Older women who walk at least 4,000 steps per day a few times per week face lower mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, according to an Oct. 21 peer-reviewed study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The study analyzed data from the 1992–2004 Women’s Health Study (WHS), which examined nearly 40,000 women aged 45 and above in the United States. In a subsequent study conducted between 2011 and 2015, many of the women wore accelerometers for seven days to measure their physical activity (PA). These individuals were followed through Dec. 31, 2024, with their mortality and CVD incidence monitored.