New research released on Monday in Nature Medicine https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02012-w gives us hope! Participants in the study wore activity trackers and had an average of 4 years of continuous monitoring. What they found was that more steps are better. People who can walk four miles a day, about 8,200 steps, are less likely to suffer from depressive disorder, obesity, sleep apnea, or acid reflux.
We already know that the average person gains 1-2 pounds a year from young adulthood through middle age, slowly leading to unhealthy weight or even obesity. If you are currently at an unhealthy weight (those with BMI from 25-29), cut your risk of becoming obese in half by getting 11,000 steps a day. The study found the increase from 6,000 steps a day to 11,000 steps reduced the incidence of obesity by 50%!
Similar studies find that steps taken as we go about daily life walking the dog, doing housework, etc., lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. Dementia risks have also been studied, and the risk can be cut in half by walking at least 10,000 steps a day.
Our steps add up in a day; these incidental daily task type of stepping does matter, so let’s move together today! Can we reach 11,000 steps today? I think it’s possible! I know I will have to walk more every hour today to make it happen because I have a class for half of the workday and a sporting event tonight, so I will have to hit the gym in addition to my activity to hit the 11,000-step goal.
When can you get some extra steps in today? It’s going to be warm around lunch, so could you take a longer break and walk for 45 minutes? Tell us your plan in the comments below! Ready, Set, Go!
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I do try to walk more need to work on that< thanks for information.Jodie
My new goal then is 11,000 steps per day! Thanks.
My goal to start is to get at least 8,000 steps a day. Yesterday I got 10,237 steps. Today spent the day in Morgantown for appointments with my husband after his surgery. So as of this early evening I only have 7,176 so far. Will do better tomorrow I hope!
I checked to see how many steps I had so far @ 10:20 am this morning! I was horrified to see I had only taken 1,312 steps! That motivated me to go for a walk on my lunch break! I At 2:20pm I have 5,651 steps. My goal the 1st week of the challenge is to get at least 8,000 steps/day, but my ultimate goal is to record 11,000 or more steps/day!
I seem not to get over 5,000 steps a day but I keep trying my best
I’m going to keep truckin’ along……. do as many steps as I can (without the truck) lol
My goal is to just get more steps than I usually do, being conscious of walking more.
I try to move as much as possible. My dad lived to be 97 and said he had been in such good health because he kept moving. My inspiration
My goal is to do stretches before & after exercise. Drink water every hour. Try adding more steps everyday. Be careful as old knee injury can come back if you don’t pace yourself.
I like walking while the weather allows – it will be more challenging as the weather changes.
It is very encouraging to see how quickly those step add up!
slowly making it to 11,000 steps………….