Walking Just 4,000 Steps Can Reduce Risk of Early Death, Study Finds
A new analysis has found that walking just 4,000 steps a day can significantly reduce the risk of an early death. The study, which analyzed data from 17 studies involving over 227,000 people from various countries, revealed that taking more steps each day is associated with better health outcomes.
According to the findings, walking a minimum of 4,000 steps can sharply reduce the risk of early death, while getting in just 2,337 steps can reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The researchers also noted that every increase of 500-1000 steps per day could be associated with significant reductions in mortality.
However, the study pointed out that fewer than 5,000 steps per day still falls under the category of a sedentary lifestyle. It emphasized the importance of increasing physical activity levels for overall health benefits.
Dr. Maciej Banach, the first author of the study and deputy editor-in-chief of the European Society of Cardiology, stated that the more steps one walks, the better the effects on their health. He emphasized that even modest increases in daily steps can have substantial mortality reductions.
Dr. David Katz, president and founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, supported the study’s findings, stating that any exercise is better than none and can offer significant cardiovascular and overall health benefits. He encouraged people to engage in more physical activity, emphasizing that the more activity, the better.
While walking 4,000 steps showed significant improvements in participants’ chances of living longer, the analysis revealed that the risk of early death was most reduced when people walked more than 7,000 steps per day.
The study found that the health benefits of walking were the same for both men and women, regardless of the country they lived in.
In conclusion, this new analysis highlights the positive impact that walking can have on reducing the risk of premature death. It emphasizes that even small increases in daily steps can lead to substantial health benefits. The findings support the idea that any form of exercise is beneficial and that increasing physical activity levels is crucial for improving overall health and longevity.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
