Overview

• A Lancet Public Health meta-analysis pooled data from 57 pedometer and wrist accelerometer studies to map dose-response links between steps and health outcomes.
• Most gains in mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer mortality, dementia and depressive symptoms accrue by roughly 5,000 to 7,000 daily steps.
• Walking about 7,000 steps instead of 2,000 was associated with approximately 47% lower all-cause mortality, 25% lower incident cardiovascular disease and 37% lower cancer mortality.
• The familiar 10,000-step goal originated as a 1960s Japanese pedometer marketing campaign rather than from scientific research.
• Experts note that adding brisk or interval walking can deliver additional cardiovascular benefits even after step-count gains level off.