How many steps a day do you really need?

The famous 10,000 steps became everyone's goal, but the number didn't come from a study. The good news is that you can gain a lot with much less.

What studies show

An analysis of 15 groups of people followed for years found that the risk of death dropped as steps increased, and the benefit leveled off at around 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day for people aged 60 and older, and 8,000 to 10,000 for younger adults.

And for weight loss?

Walking burns calories and helps keep lost weight off, but food is still the main part of the deficit. Steps add up, mainly because you can do them every day without getting too tired.

Start from where you are

1. Check your average for the last few days on your phone.
2. Add 1,000 steps a day to that average for one or two weeks.
3. When it feels easy, add another 1,000.

Where to fit the steps

A 10-minute walk after lunch, stairs instead of the elevator, getting off one stop early, walking while you're on the phone. Short stretches make a difference in the total.

This content is for information only and doesn't replace advice from a doctor or dietitian.