Taking More Steps Daily may Lead to a Longer Life – Research Zone

22nd June 2021

Research presented at the American Heart American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Conference 2021 has shown that taking more steps per day both at once or in short spurts could increase your life expectancy.

What researchers found?

In this study 16,732 women over 60 wore a waist step counter for four to seven days.

Findings:

• 804 deaths occurred during the period of the study, 2011-2019.
• Participants who took more steps in short spurts lived longer. The benefits levelled off at about 4,500 steps per day in short spurts.
• Each increase in 1,000 steps per day was associated with a 28% decrease in death.
• Participants who took more than 2,000 steps daily in uninterrupted bouts had a 32 percent decrease in death.

What this could mean for you?

• Increasing your step count through either increasing the duration you are walking for or by decreasing your inactivity by multiple short bouts of walking could increase your life expectancy.
• Walking is a very safe and easy way to improve your fitness and health.
• You could use a phone, smart watch or step counter to help motivate yourself to try and increase your step count.
• Aim for 4,500 steps per day in short spurts and/or 2,000 steps daily in uninterrupted bouts.

Read more at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210520145353.htm