FAQs
The 10,000-step goal could be just right for you—and the benefits of a 30-minute daily stroll are nearly boundless, from slowing mental decline and lowering blood pressure, to improving sleep and relieving depression.
Are you really supposed to get 10000 steps a day? ›
The study finds that health benefits begin at between 2,500 and 2,700 steps a day. For the strongest defense against cardiovascular disease, around 7,000 daily steps is the magic number (precisely 7,126), and the greatest reduction in the risk of mortality occurs with about 9,000 steps each day (8,763 steps).
Has anyone lost weight walking 10,000 steps a day? ›
Healthy Weight Loss
According to a 2018 study published in the journal Obesity, walking 10,000 steps a day is associated with weight loss and weight management. Plus, it's a low-impact exercise, making it accessible for all fitness levels.
What is the magic of 10,000 steps on Fitbit? ›
In fact, a study of the 10,000 steps a day method conducted in 2010 reported conclusive health benefits. 10,000 steps daily is approximately 5 miles. Unless you have a very active lifestyle or profession, you probably don't reach 10,000 steps on a given day without putting some effort into your activity.
Is it better to take 10 000 or 15 000 steps a day? ›
General advice is that most adults should aim for 10,000 steps a day. Still, some experts recommend 15,000 steps if you are trying to lose weight or manage high blood pressure levels.
What does science say about walking 10,000 steps a day? ›
Taking between 9000 and 10,000 steps per day appears to reduce the risk of an early death or heart-related event, adding legitimacy to an idea that has been criticised as unscientific.
How many steps should a 55 year old take a day? ›
Several studies suggest that with more steps per day, all-cause mortality risk (risk of death from any cause) progressively decreases before leveling off at: 7,000-10,000 steps per day for adults aged 18-59 years. 6,000-8,000 steps per day for adults aged 60+ years. 7,500 steps per day for women aged 62-101 years.
What percentage of people walk 10,000 steps a day? ›
Of the 660 men and women who completed the study, about 8 percent reached the 10,000 step daily goal by the end. But in a follow-up study four years later, almost no one was still striding that much. Most had slipped back to their baseline, taking about the same number of steps now as at the study's start.
What happens if I walk 10,000 steps everyday for a month? ›
Many fitness trackers – such as Fitbits – will encourage the wearer to aim for 10,000 steps a day, and various studies have shown that walking this much can have an array of health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing heart disease, cancer and dementia.
Can you lose belly fat by walking 10,000 steps a day? ›
Aiming for more steps each day
People interested in walking for weight loss should consistently hit at least 10,000 steps each day. Some people may even want to increase their total number of steps beyond this amount. However, any steps that a person takes beyond their normal daily step count can help them lose weight.
If you're doing something like pushing a stroller or shopping cart, your wrist-based device will count your steps but the total may be slightly lower than usual. If you're walking or running outside, use GPS to capture your route, pace, and distance.
Why does Fitbit want 10,000 steps? ›
10,000 steps a day is a rough equivalent to the Surgeon General's recommendation to accumulate 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. It should be enough to reduce your risk for disease and help you lead a longer, healthier life.
How many steps should you take a day on Fitbit? ›
Fitbit starts everyone off with a 10,000-step goal, and here's why: It adds up to about five miles each day for most people, which includes about 30 minutes of daily exercise—satisfying the CDC's recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Is 10k Steps A Day too little? ›
Your personal peak depends on your age. People younger than 60 should indeed walk 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day to get the best benefits in terms of life expectancy and cardiovascular health. People older than 60 show the most benefit between 6,000 and 8,000 steps.
Are you supposed to do 10k steps a day? ›
Fitness tracking devices often advise that we take 10,000 steps a day—about five miles—but taking far fewer can still have health benefits, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's I-Min Lee, an expert on step counts and health.
Why am I not losing weight walking 15000 steps a day? ›
If you are walking but not losing weight, it is a good time to look at what you are eating. You may need to make a few swaps. The key is maintaining good nutrition. Explore the right number of calories for your level of physical activity and weight-loss goal.
What is a realistic daily step goal? ›
The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles. It's a good idea to find out how many steps a day you walk now, as your own baseline. Then you can work up toward the goal of 10,000 steps by aiming to add 1,000 extra steps a day every two weeks.
What happens if you don't walk 10000 steps a day? ›
But now a new study finds walking less than that each day may be enough. New research suggests taking just four thousand steps a day will start to lower your risk of dying from any cause.
Is 10,000 steps a day considered active? ›
Sedentary is less than 5,000 steps per day. Low active is 5,000 to 7,499 steps per day. Somewhat active is 7,500 to 9,999 steps per day. Active is more than 10,000 steps per day.
Is 20,000 steps a day considered active? ›
Active: More than 10,000 steps daily. Highly active: More than 12,500 steps daily.