(ORDO NEWS) — No, not 10,000. It’s a myth, don’t you know?
Scientists conducted a massive study, the results of which determined how many steps you need to take daily to reduce the risk of death. This is not the notorious 10 thousand, which many consider the reference number of steps per day. But the figure voiced by the researchers will require some effort for people leading a sedentary lifestyle.
The scientists took data from 15 existing studies that collected data on tens of thousands of people from four continents. The data included last year’s study, which included 2,000 people.
It was possible to find out that the optimal number of daily steps for a person is about six thousand a day – depending on your age.
Evolution has honed our physiology so that we can walk long distances. Our metabolism, our cardiovascular health, our bones and muscles, and even our mental health are set to be on the move.
Incorporating just about any walk into our busy schedule will serve us well in helping us live longer, healthier, and happier lives. True, it is easier said than done: many do not have enough time and motivation to force themselves to walk even for a short time.
That’s why tech companies have invented gadgets that help us keep track of our daily steps: celebrating daily accomplishments is both rewarding and healthy. True, it was these gadgets that helped give birth to the myth of 10,000 steps.
Half a century ago, the Japanese company Yamasa Clock and Instrument Company tried to capitalize on the excitement caused by the Tokyo Olympics in 1964: they released the Manpo-kei pedometer. It literally means “10,000 steps”.
Why 10,000? Marketing and nothing else. This is a beautiful round number, and such a goal can be difficult enough to be a challenge, but at the same time it does not seem impossible, and it is worth striving for. True, there was no scientific support for this invention and the slogan.
The scientists’ latest meta-analysis included information collected on the health and step count of 47,471 adults from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. They found that the 25% of adults who took the most steps every day were 40-53% less likely to die than those at the bottom of the list of the same 25%.
For adults aged 60 and over, the risk of death can be reduced by taking 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day. More steps may offer other benefits, but a reduced chance of death is not one of them.
“Main takeaway: We have a lot of evidence that it’s beneficial to move at least a little more than usual. Especially for those who are already not too busy with physical activity,” says study co-author Amanda Paluch.
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