{"id":12671,"date":"2023-05-10T13:36:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=12671"},"modified":"2023-05-10T15:08:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:08:08","slug":"is-10000-steps-a-day-the-magic-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2023\/05\/10\/is-10000-steps-a-day-the-magic-number\/","title":{"rendered":"Is 10,000 Steps a Day the Magic Number?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Now that spring is here, many of us are spending more time outdoors and eager to \u201cget our steps in.\u201d We’ve all heard the advice to take 10,000 steps a day for our health, but where did this number come from? And is it really necessary to walk that many steps every day?<\/p>\n

Origin of the 10,000 steps<\/h3>\n

The advice to take 10,000 steps a day originated in Japan in the 1960s. This recommendation was part of a national fitness campaign to increase physical activity among the Japanese population.<\/p>\n

Although no scientific evidence supports that specific number of steps, it has become a popular goal for many people who are looking to increase their daily activity level. Ten thousand steps is equal to about five miles. Reaching that many steps, however, can be challenging unless you’re a nurse or postal worker and are constantly on your feet.<\/p>\n

Is walking 10,000 steps a day necessary for health?<\/h3>\n

Physical activity has many health benefits, including reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Physical activity can also help you sleep better and improve your mood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no magic number of steps that you need to take each day to be healthy,\u201d says\u00a0Mario Caruso, DO<\/a>, a clinical cardiologist at Cooper and Inspira Cardiac Care<\/a>. \u201cHowever, research shows that walking is good for your overall well-being\u00a0and helps you avoid the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding your magic number<\/h3>\n

A study<\/a> of men and women ages 38 to 50 who were followed for nearly 11 years found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day reduced their risk of premature death by 50% to 70%. Research showed substantial health benefits of taking between 7,000 and 10,000 steps daily.\u00a0 Going beyond 10,000 steps, however, did not show additional benefits.<\/p>\n

Another recent study\u00a0<\/a>found that walking 9,800 steps each day lowers the risk of dementia by 50%. Walking just 3,800 steps a day lowers dementia risk by 25%.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough researchers continue to study the health benefits of walking, it\u2019s clear that the more steps you take,\u00a0the less likely you are to develop\u00a0obesity and other cardiovascular disease,\u201d Dr. Caruso says. “Bottom line, any walking is better than none at all.”<\/p>\n

The benefits of walking<\/h3>\n

Walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise. It is also easy because you can do it just about anywhere, you don’t need special equipment, and it’s suitable for people of any fitness level. Walking offers a host of health benefits, including:<\/p>\n