7,000 steps a day cuts risk of cardiovascular diseases: Lancet
Summary
Walking 7,000 steps daily significantly reduces risks of major non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and depression, potentially offering a more achievable health target than the traditional 10,000 steps.
Key Points
- Walking 7,000 steps a day lowers all-cause mortality risk by 47 percent.
- It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 25 percent and death from it by 47 percent.
- Walking decreases the risk of type-2 diabetes by 14 percent, dementia by 38 percent, and depressive symptoms by 22 percent compared to walking 2,000 steps.
- A behavioural study in Kathmandu found 61 percent of adults lead a sedentary lifestyle, starting physical activity only after severe health problems develop.
