Overview
- Researchers analyzing 33,560 adults who typically took 8,000 steps or fewer found lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk when most daily steps came from 10–15 minute walks rather than sub‑five‑minute spurts.
- Participants in longer-bout groups faced about a 4% 10‑year risk of cardiovascular events versus roughly 13% for those whose steps came mainly in very short bouts.
- Among the least active (≤5,000 steps/day), sustained 15‑minute walks were associated with cardiovascular risk dropping from ~15% to ~7% and death risk from ~5% to under 1%.
- The cohort wore accelerometers for up to a week and was followed for about eight years, and experts caution the observational design and short monitoring window mean the findings do not prove causation.
- Study authors suggest adding one or two 10–15 minute walks daily as a practical step, with related evidence supporting achievable targets such as ~7,000 steps a day and intermittent 4,000‑step days for older adults.