Study Finds 4,000 Brisk Steps Can Match Slower 5,000-7,500 in Cutting Early Death Risk
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 8
Study Finds 4,000 Brisk Steps Can Match Slower 5,000-7,500 in Cutting Early Death Risk
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 8
Summary
More than 100,000 UK adults tracked for about eight years showed that faster walking was linked to lower early-death risk even at lower step counts, challenging the idea that 10,000 steps is the key target.
Among people taking fewer than 5,000 steps a day, a peak 30-minute cadence of at least 80 steps a minute was associated with a death risk similar to walking 5,000 to 7,500 steps at about 60 steps a minute.
The lowest risk was still tied to 7,500 to 10,000 daily steps regardless of pace, but for people below 7,500 steps, brisk walking for 30 minutes a day was linked to progressively lower all-cause death risk.
The authors said the 10,000-step goal traces to a 1960s Japanese pedometer campaign rather than a specific scientific threshold, arguing that pace and volume are interchangeable ways to raise activity.
Outside experts said the study is observational, so it cannot prove faster walking caused the lower risk, but it supports practical advice that any regular activity helps and pace can be the more time-efficient lever.