Scientists Identify The Optimal Number of Daily Steps For Longevity, And It's Not 10,000

DarkGamer@kbin.social to Science@kbin.social – 12 points –
sciencealert.com

Conventional wisdom would have us believe the journey to a long and healthy life begins with 10,000 steps.

10

Saved you a click: Per the article it’s closer To 6,000

Which is what the app on my phone is based on already. I manage it most days easily by walking from the bus station to work and back, which is ~1 mile. And that doesn't include the time I'm actually at work, because I can't wear my smart watch actually in the office.

Not surprising. The 10K steps idea was first set by a Japanese maker of pedometers as a marketing exercise with zero research to back it up.

The pedometers are all so imprecise though that it showing 10k may well be 6k real steps.

6k would be too easy to motivate buying pedometers, I guess.

Causality.

Some people aren't unhealthy because they don't walk enough, they don't walk enough because they're unhealthy or have an underlying condition.

I don't understand why they use steps. Who counts steps? It is more individualized than a distance, but my gosh, who is out there saying 4,981, 4,982, ...? I know roughly the distance of my pace and could convert.

It really sounds like we need folks to get out and do it, tho!