(London) A Harvard University study found that older adults who walk 4,000 steps just one day a week can reduce their risk of premature death by about a quarter.
According to a report in The Guardian, Harvard University asked 13,547 American women aged 62 and older (average age 72) to wear activity trackers for seven consecutive days between 2011 and 2015, and then followed them for more than 10 years.
According to the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, women who achieved 4,000 steps a day for only one or two days a week by the end of the observation period in 2024 had a 26% lower overall risk of death and a 27% lower risk of death from heart disease than those who did not achieve the goal at all.
Achieving 4,000 steps three or more days a week reduced the risk of premature death by 40%, but the risk of cardiovascular death only decreased by 27%.
The research team pointed out that for older adults, the key is not achieving the daily goal, but the cumulative effect of the total number of steps. "There is no best or perfect walking pattern; as long as you walk enough, the health benefits will increase." Further Reading
This was an observational study, so a causal relationship could not be directly established, and it only focused on women. However, the research team still recommends that "walking distance" should be used as a metric in future physical activity guidelines, "whether it's walking slowly or walking in a concentrated manner, as long as you move, you can live a healthier life."
