The origin of this myth of 10,000 steps comes from a Japanese advertising campaign, which promoted pedometers from the Manpo-kei brand, during the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Article originally published in March 2024
10,000 steps theory, urban legend?
Very overused and questioned, the theory of 10,000 steps per day has often been the subject of numerous debates. Integrated as a general and collective truth, 10,000 steps seem to be the threshold to reach, the holy grail of daily and regular physical activity, which allows us to cleanse the consciences of even those most tainted by office work.
Maintaining a physical activity of 10,000 steps would be the minimum required for:
- preserve your health
- control your weight
- keep yourself in shape.
10,000 steps, a relatively simple benchmark to memorize… but which, until now, had no proven scientific basis.
A scientific basis for the myth
However, a study published in the scientific journal BMJ Journals written by a team from the University of Sydney (Australia) has confirmed this coveted level. Matthew Ahmadi, lead author of the study, and his colleagues equipped more than 72,000 people with wrist pedometers for around 7 years.
According to their observations, taking between 9,000 and 10,000 steps per day would be “associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of dying during the duration of the study, and a 21% reduction in the risk of suffering a heart attack during this same period”regardless of the lifestyle of the guinea pigs.
The relative reliability of the studies
This study focuses on a large number of people, however the reliability of its result could be called into question, for the simple reason that the fact that the number of steps was counted with pedometers, which makes the precision of the data harvested somewhat relative.
Other studies have been conducted on the 10,000 steps myth, all of which have different conclusions. An American study published in 2021 shows that men and women over 45 who walk more than 7,000 steps per day have a lower risk of mortality than those who walk less.
Ultimately, it is advisable to practice regular physical activity and fight against a sedentary lifestyle!
Source: international mail, France Info
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
