Research in the Lancet Public Health journal shows that a moderate 4,000 steps daily improves health, while 7,000 steps dramatically reduces the risk of dementia, heart disease, depression, and cancer by 25-38%.
Study Findings
According to a study involving over 160,000 adults from around the world, walking 7,000 steps daily improves cardiovascular health, reduces dementia risk by 38%, heart disease by 25%, depression by 22%, and cancer risk by 6%. The study was published in Lancet Public Health.
Theoretical Roots
The idea of 10,000 steps, often cited as a daily health goal, originated from a 1964 Japanese advertisement campaign promoting a new product called “manpo-kei,” which translates to “10,000-steps counter.” This campaign coincided with the Tokyo Olympics, aiming to promote both the product and regular walking.
Expert Comments
The study’s main author, Dr. Melody Ding, emphasized that while 10,000 steps remains a popular recommendation, it lacks strong evidence. Dr. Daniel Bailey from University College London noted that the study challenges the myth of needing 10,000 steps, suggesting 7,000 steps daily provides clinically significant health benefits and could be a more realistic and achievable goal for some individuals.
Impact on Health Outcomes
Walking just 4,000 steps daily was also found to slightly improve health, indicating that any level of walking is beneficial. Experts recommend finding a daily activity level that suits individual capacities, as the study found no fixed threshold for health improvements.
