Scientists never tire of repeating that the physical exercise It is essential for health, and a particularly easy way to ensure that we do it is to walk. Of course, it is not always easy to know how much we should walk to ensure the benefits of the practice.
8,000 steps one or two days a week
Now, a new study published in the specialized media JAMA Network has studied how precisely the increase in the number of steps we take on a regular basis lowers mortality premature for any reason. And, according to its authors, for those adults with difficulties in adopting this healthy habit, just walking the recommended number of steps for one or two days a week already has a significant effect on premature mortality.
The findings are based on the analysis of data obtained from a cohort of 3,101 adults aged 20 years or older drawn from the study. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2005-2006 (USA). Specifically, the researchers crossed the number of days a week that these people walked 8,000 steps (an amount set based on the recommendations of various health organizations), verified based on an accelerometer that the participants wore during data collection, and observed the effect that the increase in this number of days had on their mortality from any cause in a period of 10 years.
In this way, they verified that although the greatest reduction in mortality at 10 years occurred in those who walked 8,000 steps three days or more each week (about 16.5% reduction), even those who walked that amount for just one or two days each week saw benefits in this regard (a 14.9% reduction in mortality).
The authors conclude that this evidences that even this moderate exercise performed once or twice a week is related to positive health effectsso this may be the basis for recommendations made to people with greater difficulties in adopting this healthy habit.
References
Inoue K, Tsugawa Y, Mayeda ER, Ritz B. Association of Daily Step Patterns With Mortality in US Adults. JAMA Network Open. (2023). DOI: doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.5174