Can’t Hit 10K Steps? A New Study Says to Pick Up the Pace
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Some Pep in Your Step: If you struggle to hit 10,000 steps every day, don’t sweat it too much. First of all, the 10K magic number originated from marketing, not science. You can still get significant benefits with fewer steps. On days when you can’t get lots of steps, the secret could be to walk faster instead of longer, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The Study: Researchers analyzed data collected from activity trackers worn by more than 100,000 middle-aged participants in the UK Biobank. The trackers measured both the quantity and intensity of their steps. Participants were grouped into four categories, based on how many steps they took.
The Takeaway: Getting fewer than 5,000 steps a day at a cadence of at least 80 steps a minute equaled a much lower risk of death — comparable to those who took 5,000 to 7,500 steps at a 60-steps-per-minute pace. While the lowest risk of death was in those who got 7,500 to 10,000 steps a day, 30 minutes of brisk walking a day may be the “sweet spot” for sedentary people.
Keep in Mind: The study was observational, so it didn’t find causation.
