The Myth of 10,000 Steps
Walking, and more of it, is great for health, but let’s be reasonable, science says
Welcome back to Age Wise, exploring the science of improving physical health and mental wellness at every stage of life. I’m taking a newsletter semi-break this week and next, then back in January. Meantime, here’s a little myth-busting to hold you over, from my latest article on Medium:
A new meta-analysis of eight studies on people 60 and older confirms other evidence that 10,000 steps isn’t some magical number, and that the health benefits of walking—which are profound, indeed—start to level off before that threshold.
Older adults who walk anywhere from 6,000 to 9,000 steps per day — regardless of their pace — have a 40% to 50% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes or other cardiovascular events.
The findings are published this week in the journal Circulation.
The upshot: Walking is fantastic for the mind and body. Some walking is better than none, and more is better than some, up to a point. And pace doesn’t seem to matter much, so long as you get the steps in. Oh, and why the myth? Read the full story on Medium to find out »
Happy holidays!
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Your support makes this free newsletter possible. If you find it useful, please consider forwarding it. You can find more of my health and wellness writing on Medium. Also find me on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin. And if you ever feel tired, unfocused, stressed or cranky in the afternoon, check out my book, Make Sleep Your Superpower. —Rob