{"id":92017,"date":"2025-07-25T18:12:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T18:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/92017\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T18:12:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T18:12:14","slug":"7000-steps-a-day-delivers-major-health-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/92017\/","title":{"rendered":"7,000 Steps A Day Delivers Major Health Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-node-id=\"0\" class=\"css-1wk73g0 emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"0.0\">A new meta review published in the Lancet officially confirmed that we&#8217;ve been calculating our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"step count\" data-node-id=\"0.0.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">step count<\/a> number all wrong.<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"0.1\">The new findings suggest that you can actually reap <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/fitness\/a64516114\/benefits-of-walking-for-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/fitness\/a64516114\/benefits-of-walking-for-health\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"the major health benefits\" data-node-id=\"0.1.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">the major health benefits<\/a> well before you hit 10,000 steps.<br data-node-id=\"0.1.0.3\"\/><\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"0.2\">Here&#8217;s what experts say about the 10k number and how this applies to your life.<br data-node-id=\"0.2.0.1\"\/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">The idea that you need to log 10,000 steps a day for good health has been health gospel for ages. But as Women&#8217;s Health <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"previously reported\" data-node-id=\"2.3\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">previously reported<\/a> this year, the 10,000-a-day steps goal (which roughly equates to five miles) isn\u2019t really based in science. In fact, it&#8217;s more marketing than anything. But it\u2019s a nice, round number, and it\u2019s built into most<a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/fitness\/g24738992\/best-fitness-trackers\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/fitness\/g24738992\/best-fitness-trackers\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\" fitness trackers\" data-node-id=\"2.7\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\"> fitness trackers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">Now, a new scientific analysis in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanpub\/article\/PIIS2468-2667(25)00164-1\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanpub\/article\/PIIS2468-2667(25)00164-1\/fulltext&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1753445747033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0mCXXeFftLzVQuej99jdhB\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanpub\/article\/PIIS2468-2667(25)00164-1\/fulltext\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"The Lancet Public Health\" data-node-id=\"3.1.0\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">The Lancet Public Health<\/a> officially confirms that this lofty steps count goal isn\u2019t actually necessary\u2014and the potential health benefits start to level off well before you reach that point. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">If you\u2019ve been happily clocking 10,000 steps a day and feel like it\u2019s working for you, there\u2019s no reason to stop. But if that number is intimidating and feels impossible to reach with everything else you\u2019ve got going on in your life, this study probably has some findings you can use. Here\u2019s what the scientific review discovered, plus where experts and trainers recommend you try to land with your new step count goal.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"body-tip css-18qyn7q emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"6.0\">Meet the experts<\/strong>: Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/sohostrengthlab.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/sohostrengthlab.com\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"SoHo Strength Lab\" data-node-id=\"6.2\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">SoHo Strength Lab<\/a>; Dani Singer, CPT, founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-offer-url=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" data-event-click=\"{&quot;pattern&quot;:&quot;ExternalLink&quot;}\" data-event-boundary=\"click\" data-in-view=\"{&quot;pattern&quot;:&quot;ExternalLink&quot;}\" data-include-experiments=\"true\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-node-id=\"6.4\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Fit2Go Personal Training\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">Fit2Go Personal Training<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"7.0\">What did the new meta review find?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"8\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">For the review, researchers analyzed data from 88 different studies, looking at how step counts were linked with the risk of developing a slew of health conditions. Overall, the researchers discovered that the risk of developing serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a65090545\/mom-dementia-diagnosis-marathons\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a65090545\/mom-dementia-diagnosis-marathons\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"dementia\" data-node-id=\"8.1\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">dementia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a64957153\/katherine-lanasa-the-pitt-cancer-exclusive-essay\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a64957153\/katherine-lanasa-the-pitt-cancer-exclusive-essay\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"cancer\" data-node-id=\"8.3\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">cancer<\/a>, type 2 diabetes, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/life\/g28069900\/books-about-depression\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/life\/g28069900\/books-about-depression\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"depression\" data-node-id=\"8.5\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">depression<\/a> was lower in people who logged 7,000 steps a day compared to those who only did 2,000 daily steps. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">But they also discovered that the health perks beyond 7,000 steps were actually pretty minimal. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">&#8220;Although 10,000 steps per day, an unofficial target for decades without a clear evidence base, was associated with substantially lower risks for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease incidence, cancer mortality, dementia, and depressive symptoms than 7,000 steps per day, the incremental improvement beyond 7,000 steps per day was small, and there was no statistical difference between 7,000 steps per day and a higher step count for all the other outcomes,&#8221; the investigators wrote. &#8220;Therefore, 7,000 steps per day might be a more realistic and achievable recommendation for some, but 10,000 steps per day can still be a viable target for those who are more active.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More On Your Step Count From WH<strong data-node-id=\"12.0\">Where did the 10,000 number come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">The famous steps goal number has a long history behind it (you can do a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/health\/a62598280\/accidental-step-count-scam\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"deep dive here\" data-node-id=\"13.1\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">deep dive here<\/a>). But here&#8217;s a quick recap: This number was formulated by a Tokyo doctor named Iwao Ohya who created a fitness tracker called Manpo-Kei (in Japanese, that means &#8220;10,000 step meter) with engineer Jiro Kato.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">It&#8217;s been suggested that 10,000 steps was chosen because the Japanese character for 10,000 looks like a man running or walking, but it\u2019s not really clear if that&#8217;s truly one of the reasons behind the number. (Both inventors have since died.) <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">The number 10,000 eventually got picked up by researchers and fitness tracker developers, and its popularity spread. These days, almost everyone knows the number. Still, &#8220;no clinical data backed it then, and none was added later,&#8221; says Dani Singer, CPT, founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-offer-url=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" data-event-click=\"{&quot;pattern&quot;:&quot;ExternalLink&quot;}\" data-event-boundary=\"click\" data-in-view=\"{&quot;pattern&quot;:&quot;ExternalLink&quot;}\" data-include-experiments=\"true\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-node-id=\"15.1\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.fit2gopt.com\/\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Fit2Go Personal Training.\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">Fit2Go Personal Training.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"17.0\">Why is it not accurate?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">While hitting 10,000 steps isn&#8217;t bad for you (and means you&#8217;re moving a lot throughout the day) the exact number is pretty much made up. &#8220;It was a marketing campaign,\u201d says Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/sohostrengthlab.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/sohostrengthlab.com\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"SoHo Strength Lab\" data-node-id=\"18.1\" class=\"body-link css-7bauu1 emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">SoHo Strength Lab<\/a>. \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a scientific basis for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">Matheny stresses that the 10,000 steps a day goal isn\u2019t necessarily inaccurate from a health POV\u2014but many people can get serious health perks between 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day. &#8220;The data show health gains level off well before 10,000,&#8221; Singer says. &#8220;Mortality and cardiovascular risk improvements start at just 2,000. It&#8217;s important to understand this so that you avoid an all-or-nothing mindset\u2014especially one that isn&#8217;t based on any actual data.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"20\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">If that&#8217;s the number you like, and you hit it consistently, stick with it! But just remember: \u201c10,000 steps per day is not the magic number,&#8221; per Matheny.<\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"21.0\">So, how many steps should I take per day?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">Based on the scientific review&#8217;s findings, aiming for 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day is a good goal to reach for. That&#8217;s roughly two to 3.5 miles per day, depending on your stride. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with 10,000 steps, but it isn\u2019t based in science,\u201d Matheny says. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"css-i9p093 emevuu60\">If you want to still aim for 10,000 steps, Matheny says you should go for it. \u201cIf you don\u2019t get there, maybe you still get to 7,000,\u201d he points out. But any amount of walking is helpful. \u201cA thousand steps is way better than zero,\u201d Matheny says. <\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753467134_485_ea27d1a6-ecd9-4da8-b2a7-049a03b4ab93_1528214135.file\" alt=\"Headshot of Korin Miller\" title=\"Headshot of Korin Miller\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men\u2019s Health, Women\u2019s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master\u2019s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new meta review published in the Lancet officially confirmed that we&#8217;ve been calculating our step count number&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":92018,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[60943,3178,60945,1201,1198,210,2875,60944,60942,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-92017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-000-steps-every-day","9":"tag-content-type-news","10":"tag-contentid-2283ddf3-34db-4cb3-b009-7b0f6bc522ee","11":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","12":"tag-fitness","13":"tag-health","14":"tag-locale-us","15":"tag-says-study","16":"tag-shorttitle-you-dont-need-10","17":"tag-united-states","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114915229430330388","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}