NEW DELHI– Walking just 7,000 steps a day may significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, depression, dementia—and even premature death—according to a new study published Thursday in The Lancet Public Health.
The comprehensive review analyzed data from more than 160,000 adults across 57 global studies. Researchers found that a daily step count of around 7,000 was linked to substantial reductions in the risk of several major health issues: a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, 14% for diabetes, 6% for cancer, 22% for depression, 38% for dementia, and 28% for falls. Notably, all-cause mortality was nearly halved.
While the 10,000-step goal remains a popular benchmark, the study suggests that 7,000 steps may be a more realistic and attainable target for many people—particularly those who are less active.
“Although 10,000 steps per day can still be a viable target for those who are more active, 7,000 steps per day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and might be a more realistic and achievable target for some,” said lead author Professor Ding Ding from The Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.
Even modest increases in physical activity made a difference. The study noted that people who walked around 4,000 steps daily still showed better health outcomes than those averaging just 2,000 steps.
For some conditions, like heart disease, benefits continued to rise beyond 7,000 steps. However, for most health outcomes, the advantages plateaued around that mark.
Researchers acknowledged some limitations, including a smaller pool of data for certain conditions like cancer and dementia, and lack of age-specific analysis. Still, they emphasized the value of step counts as a simple, effective way to promote physical activity.
The findings could influence future public health guidelines, encouraging individuals to use step-tracking as a practical tool for better long-term health. (Source: IANS)
