 Good news if you struggle to get your 10,000 steps a day in – walking as few as 4,000 steps still reduces the risk of dying from any health-related cause. In addition, walking just 2,337 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. For decades, 10,000 steps has been the benchmark for those trying to boost their health – even though the figure was initially decided not by scientists, but a Japanese marketing team advertising a pedometer. Nevertheless, the figure has become embedded in health regimes around the world and numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of hitting the magic number. Now however, new research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has shown even walking less than 10,000 steps still has significant health benefits. Analysis of 226,889 people from 17 different studies found the risk of dying from any health-related cause, including cardiovascular disease, decreases significantly with every extra 500 to 1,000 steps walked. An increase of 1,000 steps a day was associated with a 15% reduction in the risk of dying from any cause, and an increase of 500 steps a day was associated with a 7% reduction in dying from cardiovascular disease. Walking has many benefits – for all ages and genders (Picture: Getty) 'Our study confirms that the more you walk, the better,' said Maciej Banach, professor of cardiology at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. 'We found that this applied to both men and women, irrespective of age, and irrespective of whether you live in a temperate, sub-tropical or sub-polar region of the world, or a region with a mixture of climates.' Myriad studies have shown the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, which may contribute to cardiovascular disease and a shorter lifespan. More women than men and people in higher income countries do not undertake a sufficient amount of physical activity ever){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Good news if you struggle to get your 10,000 steps a day in – walking as few as 4,000 steps still reduces the risk of dying from any health-related cause.
In addition, walking just 2,337 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
For decades, 10,000 steps has been the benchmark for those trying to boost their health – even though the figure was initially decided not by scientists, but a Japanese marketing team advertising a pedometer.
Nevertheless, the figure has become embedded in health regimes around the world and numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of hitting the magic number.