No need to walk thousands of steps a day! Doctor: 2,000 steps more than usual

Health     9:24am, 29 August 2025

10,000 steps a day is a good foundation for maintaining your body shape, but it is not a method that applies to various situations. Fitness trackers such as smart watch brand Fitbit set this number as a fitness goal, but fitness experts recommend setting different step goals based on personal health.

researchers said that the goal of 10,000 steps was a marketing trick in the 1960s, but not everyone can benefit from taking these multiple steps.

Research led by Lee pointed out that the suggestion of 10,000 steps a day was taken by Japanese footwork manufacturers that year and was called the "10,000 step measurement" in the 1965s, but no scientific data supported this number, just because it was a good record.

Harley Pasternak, a well-known personal fitness instructor who works with Fitbit, said he set 10,000 steps for his clients, including 30 minutes of moderate exercise, in line with the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s sports advice and 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

He said: "I suggest that if you want to reduce the weight, you can work hard to achieve the goal of 10,000 steps a day." But the goal of walking is different because of your lifestyle. For some people, walking is more ideal.

Harvard research surveyed 10,000 women between the ages of 66 and 78 and found that those who walk more than 7,500 steps a day have the lowest mortality rate; even women who walk only 4,400 steps a day have the lowest mortality rate than those who walk less than 2,000 steps a day. But taking more than 7,500 steps will not be more healthy.

How many steps do you need to take to take to maintain health care? Li Yimin suggested adding 2,000 steps to the number of steps you walk normally every day.

The average daily travel of Americans is 4,000 to 5,000 steps. If you are young or have fitness experience, it is not a bad suggestion to use 10,000 steps a day as a health indicator. But older people and those who are less active may find this number fascinating, and too high a goal will make them give up on their movement.

Li Yimin said: "If you don't move often, just set reasonable goals for more frequent exercise."

Although the Federal Department of Hygiene and Public Services (HHS) has listed a list of 150 minutes a week, it is clear that no matter what exercise is done, it is better to have movement than not.