Overview
- An Annals of Internal Medicine analysis of 33,560 UK adults averaging 8,000 steps or fewer found progressively lower risk as typical walking-bout length increased.
- Compared with people taking most steps in bursts under five minutes, those regularly walking more than 15 minutes had about 70% lower cardiovascular disease and 80% lower all-cause mortality.
- Participants were free of cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline and were tracked for roughly eight years after a short period of wrist-worn accelerometer monitoring.
- Researchers advise aiming for 10–15 minute walks when feasible to maximize benefits, while stressing that the findings show association rather than proven causation.
- A separate Harvard-linked study reported that a heart-rate-per-step metric (DHRPS) correlated with chronic disease risk, though its predominantly White, female sample and small validation tests constrain conclusions.