Keep It Simple: Daily Steps Is Linked To Longevity

What should be your daily steps goal? Do you need to get 10,000 steps per day? If you’re like me, that number is steep! My hobbies don’t really include activities that add to my steps count, and my job keeps me at a desk most of the time. However, for many people, getting those steps in is a PERFECT way to increase your movement and stay active. So, how many steps should you get daily? It all depends on the results you want. If you want to become more active, pay attention to the number of steps you normally get, and aim for something a little bit higher. Set a goal and create a challenge!

In a study that followed people ages 38-50 over a 10-year timespan and linked all-cause mortality with their total daily steps count, steps made a difference in longevity.¹ This study showed statistically significant data that obtaining at least 7,000 steps per day decreased overall mortality rate in the participants. When I looked at the data, I wasn’t convinced of the importance.  Only 0.1-0.8% of the participants in each category passed away during the study; however, when I looked at these percentages more closely, I saw that people who got less than 7,000 steps per day were 3 times more likely to die over the course of the study.