Movement · Go further · 01
Movement: Is 10,000 Steps Really Required?
Most people have heard that 10,000 steps a day is the number to aim for.
Most of the benefit arrives by around 7,000 steps a day
The 10,000 figure came from a pedometer launched in Japan in 1965, called the "10,000-step meter". The number was chosen because it was catchy, not because of any study.
When researchers finally checked, a 2025 review of 57 studies and over 160,000 adults found the health benefits of walking rise steeply up to about 7,000 steps a day, then start to level off.
More still helps
Steps above 7,000 still add benefit, especially for your heart. So 10,000 isn't wrong. It just isn't the line between healthy and unhealthy.
Start where you are
If you're at 3,000 steps a day now, getting to 5,000 is a real win. The benefit comes from moving more than you do now, not from hitting a round number.
10,000 is just a catchy number. The real benefit comes from moving more and sitting less.
General information, not medical advice. If you've an existing condition or you're unsure about starting something new, speak to a qualified professional first.
Movement · 01