Why is 10,000 steps actually considered a universal step target? This is nothing more than a marketing gag by a Japanese manufacturer of the first pedometer. It could only count up to 9,999 before jumping back to 0. But what is the true health-related step target?
Studies show that just 2,600-2,800 steps per day can have a significant impact on our health. The more we walk, the better - up to a certain point. Above around 8,800 steps, the added value of each additional step for our health becomes negligible.
Source: Relationship of Daily Step Counts to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events. Niels A. Stens at al. (2023)
