A daily goal of 10,000 steps has been the recommended target by many experts to stay away from lifestyle diseases and be more fit. However, a recent study suggests a different figure as the target and it is not 10k steps.
As per research published in The Lancet Public Health journal, experts say 10,000 steps per day can be a viable target for those who are more active, but 7000 steps per day is a more realistic target.
7k steps can be associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and can be an achievable target for some.
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Compared with 2000 steps per day, 7000 steps per day was associated with a 47% lower risk of all-cause mortality, a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease incidence, a 47% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, a non-significant 6% lower risk of cancer incidence, a 37% lower risk of cancer mortality, a 14% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a 38% lower risk of dementia, a 22% lower risk of depressive symptoms, and a 28% lower risk of falls, mentioned the study.
BBC reported that the figure of 10,000 steps can be traced back to a 1960s marketing campaign in Japan. In the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a brand of pedometer was launched called the manpo-kei, which translates as "10,000-step meter". Experts say this figure was 'taken out of context' and became an unofficial target, which many apps still continue to keep as a benchmark.
The latest figure backed by the research findings can encourage people to take up walking and stay active as the world moves towards an unhealthy lifestyle haunted by various diseases.
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