As more of us use smartwatches and other health monitoring devices, there's increasing pressure to log our daily activities. Scientists agree that 30 minutes of exercise five times a week is a healthy amount of physical activity for adults.
We also commonly accept averaging 10,000 steps as the benchmark. But a new study suggests we require a little more than two-thirds of that to stay fit. The study, published in Jama Network Open, tracked the steps of 2110 adults for over a decade and found that “Participants taking at least 7000 steps per day, compared with those taking fewer than 7000 steps per day, had a 50 per cent to 70 per cent lower risk of mortality.”
The study confirms that more steps taken per day were associated with a lowered chance of premature mortality; 4,400 daily steps reduce mortality in women by 41 per cent compared to those who take less than 2,700 steps daily.
However, the benefits seem to flatline at 7,000 steps. There’s good news for those who have difficulty clocking that many steps– the study found upping your step count in any amount is associated with a boost in overall health.
So who came up with the idea that we need to take 10,000 steps daily to stay healthy? Harvard Medical School professor I-Min Lee's study suggests it could well have been a marketing ploy adopted by brands that promote healthy living.
Goal setting is one of the keys to sustaining a long-term fitness routine. The 10,000-step narrative gives individuals something to work towards. It creates a reason for consumers to track their daily activities, a trend that smartwatch and health-tracking device makers such as Fitbit and Apple are happy to embrace.
The first use of the 10,000-step benchmark dates back to 1965– a Japanese company created the first step counter that encouraged people to take up to 10,000 steps daily.
Other companies have also jumped on the step-counting bandwagon. Life insurance providers have offered discounts on health policies for those who average 10,000 steps per day each year. It’s perhaps one way to encourage exercise and keep insurance claims low, but it also works to attract policy buyers who already lead an active lifestyle.
Despite the benefits of walking, taking too many steps a day can be bad for health, too. Those who have arthritis can see their condition worsen if they overexert themselves.
As with most tips on staying healthy, we should take all information we see with a grain of salt. And when in doubt, seek help from a professional to pinpoint strategies that work with your age, health and lifestyle.
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