Large study finds the sweet spot for daily step goals
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- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Are you a step counter, aiming for 10,000 steps per day to stay healthy? Many studies have suggested you don't need to hit that mark to maintain good health and live longer. And now the largest study to date backs up that theory. The research, published online Aug. 9, 2023, by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, evaluated 17 high-quality studies from around the world, including a total of almost 227,000 people (ages 18 and older) who wore fitness trackers for a week and were then followed for about seven years. Taking at least 3,900 steps per day (not quite two miles) was linked to significantly lower risks of dying from any cause during the study period. A reduction in death specifically from cardiovascular disease appeared with an even smaller number of daily steps — about 2,300. The data also showed that each 1,000-step increment was associated with a 15% decreased risk of dying, and each 500-step increment was tied to a 7% decrease in death from cardiovascular disease. This study was observational and can't prove definitively that the number of steps people took lengthened their lives. But the findings underscore two common health messages: even a little movement makes a difference, and more is better.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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