A recent study has found that taking at least 7,000 steps per day may significantly improve eight major health outcomes, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and depressive symptoms.
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 57 studies on the relationship between daily step count and health outcomes among adults. The findings suggest that higher step counts are associated with better health, particularly in reducing the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, mental health problems, physical function decline, and falls.
The study showed a significant inverse linear association between daily step count and cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer incidence, type 2 diabetes incidence, and depressive symptoms. For example, taking 7,000 steps per day was associated with a 47% reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared to 2,000 steps per day.
However, the study found that extra benefits beyond 7,000 steps per day were modest for most health outcomes. The researchers noted that for people who are already active, taking 10,000 steps a day is still great, but the additional benefits of exceeding 7,000 steps per day were not statistically significant for cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer incidence, type 2 diabetes, and falls.
Overall, the study’s findings support the use of daily step count as a practical metric for physical activity guidelines and recommendations. By incorporating more walking into their daily routine, individuals may be able to reduce their risk of various health problems and improve their overall well-being.
Source: https://www.hcplive.com/view/walking-7000-steps-per-day-reduces-risk-chronic-diseases-cognitive-decline