Keep walking, keep living: how many steps a day you need for a longer life?

Where some people are obsessed with hitting 10,000 steps every day, many others can barely get themselves to get up from their couches. Research has now found that the sweet spot for daily steps lies somewhere in between.

People who walk around 7,000 steps a day have a 50% to 70% lower risk of dying from all causes, suggests a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. The study also found that a higher step count per day was linked with an incremental lower risk of death but the benefits level off at around 10,000 steps/day.

SEE MORE Walking for half-an-hour a day reduces risk of death after a stroke, study suggests

The number was calculated based on data from follow-ups over 11 years with a cohort consisting of Black and White middle-aged men and women.

Interestingly, the team found no increased benefit of step-intensity or walking speed in regards to mortality risk. They also add that there is no perfect number of steps. People should simply focus on walking more than they did the day before and increase the number at their own pace.

The findings also prove that you don’t need a gym or fancy equipment to improve your health. There are several smartphone apps to help you track your daily steps. All you really have to do is just start walking!

SEE MORE Walking after eating: Let’s discuss its health benefits