How many steps a day is enough for health, scientists found out

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One form of physical activity that supports general health is walking. Researchers from the American Heart Association (AKA) found out how many steps a day are enough to get the maximum benefit. The scientists' findings were presented at the AKA Conference on Epidemiology, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Health.

16,732 women over 60 years of age participated in the study. All of them wore special devices that counted the number of steps taken.

As a result, it turned out that those who walked often, but in “jerks”, for example, climbed the stairs or did housework, lived longer .

Moreover, each additional 1,000 steps was associated with a 28% reduction in mortality over the six-year follow-up period. Among participants who took more than 2,000 steps a day without interruption, the risk of death decreased by 32%.

“More and more studies show that any movement is better than a sedentary lifestyle. Our results showed that the association with longevity persisted even for women who did not walk much.

2,000 or more extra steps during peak activity is enough to lead to a longer life,” said lead study author Christopher Moore. .

Thus, the minimum number of steps you need to take per day to get the health benefits of walking is 1,000, even if it is for short periods of activity. Currently, the AKA recommends devoting at least 150 minutes a week to exercise.