Is it true that you need to walk 10,000 steps a day to stay fit: where does this figure come from?

16.09.2024 09:47
Updated: 27.09.2024 21:06

There is an opinion that in order to stay in shape, you should walk 10,000 steps every day.

We won't argue: physical activity in the form of walking really helps the body. But why do people think that not two, not five, but ten thousand will be enough?

The 10,000 step theory originated in Japan back in 1965, when the country launched an advertising campaign for the Yamasa Clock pedometer.

Research conducted at the time showed that such activity does indeed benefit the body, but in 2019, scientists from Harvard Medical School refuted this theory.

Researchers have found that to reap the full benefits of walking, you only need to take 4,400 steps a day.

Legs
Photo: © Belnovosti

As a result of the experimental work, it was found that the risk of death in women who walked 4,400 steps a day was lower compared to those who walked 2,700 steps a day.

It was concluded that the more people walked, the lower their risk of death.

However, after 7,500 steps, this effect became less noticeable, so the scientists did not find a significant difference between 7,500 and 10,000 steps.

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Internet resource editor