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Meta-Analysis Identifies 7,000 Daily Steps as Realistic Target for Health Gains
AUSTRALIA, JUL 24 – Walking 7,000 steps daily reduces risk of death by 47% and lowers chances of heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and depression, according to University of Sydney-led research.
- Researchers published a study on July 23, 2025, in The Lancet Public Health analyzing 57 studies involving over 160,000 adults worldwide.
- The study challenges the common 10,000-step goal, which originated from a Japanese marketing campaign, suggesting a lower step count suffices for many people.
- The findings show that walking 7,000 steps daily linked to a 47% lower risk of premature death and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and depression.
- Physical activity epidemiologist Borja del Pozo Cruz noted that although many people aim for 10,000 steps daily, this target is not strongly supported by scientific evidence and recommended focusing on a more attainable step count.
- The study suggests recommending 7,000 steps daily could improve public health by encouraging sustainable activity, while 10,000 steps remains viable for more active individuals.
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7,000 steps a day could protect from a range of health issues
Credit: filadendron / E+ / Getty Images Plus. Analysis of data from more than 50 studies suggests that reaching 7,000 steps a day offers similar health benefits to the standard 10,000 steps target. The analysis reviewed studies from countries including Australia, USA, UK and Japan, published between 2014 and 2025. The analysis, published in the Lancet Public Health, looked at several impacts including the risk of developing cancers, type 2 diabe…
“The biggest gains take place at the 7,000 steps from which they are intended to stabilize”
According to the study, by increasing from 2,000 to 7,000 steps, the equivalent of more than or less than five kilometres, the risk of premature death is reduced by almost half (47%) for all causes.
Many insurance companies, sports brands recommend taking at least 10,000 steps a day. This goal is sometimes difficult to achieve. A new study has just shown that the health benefits also appear by making 7,000 spans. They would reduce the risk of neurological diseases by 38%, depressive trends by 22%, and the proportion of diabetes by 14%. But from one state of health to another, this new symbolic level is not always relevant. (Health and well-…
7,000 Steps A Day May Keep The Doctor Away
A common belief that we should walk 10,000 steps a day in order to maintain good health, may be a misconception following the release of a new study that proposes 7,000 may be a more realistic target. The perception that we should walk 10,000 steps per day is not based on science but can in fact be traced back to a Japanese marketing campaign for a pedometer in the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
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