It was long thought that ten thousand steps a day were necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Researchers have now discovered that seven thousand steps already have major health benefits. After that limit, the health benefits increase less rapidly.
The research was published on Thursday in the medical journal The Lancet. It is the largest review study ever conducted. The researchers used previous studies involving a total of 160,000 adults worldwide.
The scientists conclude that taking seven thousand steps a day already had major benefits compared to two thousand steps. For example, the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes and depression demonstrably decreased. These benefits level off when more than seven thousand steps were taken, although some improvement could still be measured.
“We have this idea that we have to take ten thousand steps a day, but that is not based on any evidence,” says research leader Melody Ding. The idea that ten thousand steps a day is a guideline for a healthy lifestyle probably comes from a Japanese campaign. In the run-up to the 1964 Olympic Games, a pedometer was issued called the manpo-kei (ten thousand step counter).
According to Ding, the ten thousand steps later unintentionally became an unofficial guideline, while it was taken “out of context”. “There are also other ways to get exercise, such as cycling or swimming.” According to the researchers, the most important thing is that people are consciously engaged in exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.