In an age where digitalization and office work are increasing, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle, experts stress the importance of daily physical activity, such as walking, to significantly reduce the risk of early death and cardiovascular disease.
Scientific evidence shows that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as a shortened life expectancy. But is there an effective way to counteract these negative effects?
How Many Steps Should You Take Per Day to Stay Healthy for Longer?
Scientists from the University of Sydney have conducted a study that answers this crucial question. They argue that increasing the number of steps taken daily can help combat the adverse health effects of spending too much time sitting in front of a computer. A study of more than 72,000 people, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that every additional step taken up to 10,000 steps a day reduces the risk of early death by 39% and cardiovascular disease by 21%, regardless of the amount of time spent sitting. This is the first study to use wrist-worn devices to objectively measure physical activity in daily life.
“This is not a get-out-of-jail-free pass for people who spend a lot of time sitting. However, it does send an important public health message that every movement counts and that people can and should try to mitigate the health consequences of unavoidable time spent sitting,” says Dr. Matthew Ahmadi of the University of Sydney. The study analyzed data from 72,174 people (average age 61; 58% women) from the UK Biobank, one of the largest biomedical databases in the world. Participants wore wrist accelerometers for a week to measure their physical activity.
Walking Reduces the Risk of Many Diseases
Scientists have calculated that taking between 9,000 and 10,000 steps per day is optimal for counteracting the risks of a sedentary lifestyle. Such activity reduces the risk of premature death by 39% and the risk of cardiovascular events by 21%. Noticeable health benefits begin at just 4,000 steps per day, which researchers consider the absolute minimum worth taking daily. These findings highlight the importance of physical activity, even when broken down into smaller, regular portions throughout the day. Every step we take contributes to improving our health.
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Fathia Gbadamosi