Forget 10,000 Steps: New Research Highlights the Importance of Continuous Walking
A new study challenges the widely-held belief that 10,000 steps a day is essential for optimal health. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and reported by the BBC on Monday, the research suggests that how you walk is more vital than how much. The 10,000-step recommendation, originating from a Japanese marketing campaign, lacks solid scientific backing.
Researchers from the University of Sydney and the European University of Spain tracked the health of 33,560 Britons aged 40 to 79 who typically walked less than 8,000 steps daily over an eight-year period. They found that individuals who concentrated their steps into longer walking sessions experienced better health outcomes than those who spread the same number of steps throughout the day.
The study participants with longer, uninterrupted walks showed a reduced risk of heart problems, self-reliant of factors like weight, cholesterol levels, or smoking habits. The benefits where even more pronounced for those who were initially less active, walking fewer than 5,000 steps per day.
“Even people who are very little physically active can maximize the benefits for their heart by adjusting their walking habits to walk longer in one go, ideally at least 10 to 15 minutes,” explained Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, co-leader of the study. He emphasized that the quality of your walk – sustained periods of movement – is as crucial as the total quantity of steps taken.This finding offers a practical and accessible way to improve cardiovascular health for individuals of all activity levels.
