We've all heard that you should take 10,000 steps a day for your health. It's a lot of steps!

But did you realize that figure was never based on actual science, but by a marketing department? 

“The 10,000 step count was not based on scientific data but rather a marketing ploy – a Japanese Company (Yamasa Clock) created a pedometer called Manpo-kei which means ‘10,000 step meter,’ perhaps because the Japanese character for 10,000 kind of looks like a person walking/running,” Dr. Tamanna Singh, co-director of Cleveland Clinic’s sports cardiology center, explained. “Somehow, this led to a generalization that we need to get at least 10,000 steps/day.”

So then just how many steps do we need to take in a day? That is not quite so easy to determine. There is no simple number that works for everyone. 

A 2023 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggested 2,600 to 2,800 daily steps was enough to produce health benefits, while a European study from 2022 found that increasing your step count by 1,000-step increments may lead to a 15% decrease in your risk of all-cause mortality.

Dr. John Jakicic, a research professor in the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management in the Department of Internal Medicine at KU School of Medicine, says that more recent data suggests a goal of 8,000 steps a day can help prevent major chronic health conditions and extend your quality of life years. 

Everyone is different, so even just adding a bit more exercise and movement into your daily routine will have a lasting effect. 

For more information, read the full story.