Rethinking the daily 10,000-step goal
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A recent study published in the journal The Lancet Public Health reveals that you don’t necessarily need to hit 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy. The researchers found that even a moderate number of daily steps, often far fewer than 10,000, can provide significant benefits for heart health, weight management, and overall well-being. Aiming for around 7,000 steps a day is a practical and effective goal, with consistency and gradual increases in activity proving more important than reaching a specific step count.
Source
Ding D, Nguyen B, Nau T, Luo M, Del Pozo Cruz B, Dempsey PC, Munn Z, Jefferis BJ, Sherrington C, Calleja EA, Hau Chong K, Davis R, Francois ME, Tiedemann A, Biddle SJH, Okely A, Bauman A, Ekelund U, Clare P, Owen K. Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health. 2025 Aug;10(8):e668-e681. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00164-1. Epub 2025 Jul 23. Erratum in: Lancet Public Health. 2025 Sep;10(9):e731. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00199-9. PMID: 40713949.
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/health/daily-steps-how-many-wellness
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/well/how-many-steps-per-day-health.html