Another, more expansive study last year of almost 5,000 middle-aged men and women of various ethnicities likewise found that 10,000 steps a day are not a requirement for longevity. In that study, people who walked for about 8,000 steps a day were half as likely to die prematurely from heart disease or any other cause as those who accumulated 4,000 steps a day. The statistical benefits of additional steps were slight, meaning it did not hurt people to amass more daily steps, up to and beyond the 10,000-steps mark. According to recent estimates, most adults in America, Canada and other Western nations average fewer than 5,000 steps a day. Of the 660 men and women who completed the study, about 8 percent reached the 10,000 step daily goal by the end.

Source: New York Times July 06, 2021 20:20 UTC