A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that taking 9,000 to 10,500 steps a day can significantly reduce the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease, even for individuals who are sedentary for the rest of the day. Led by researchers at the University of Sydney/Charles Perkins Centre, the study analysed data from 72,174 individuals enrolled in the UK Biobank study. Participants wore accelerometer devices on their wrists for seven days to measure physical activity and sedentary time.
The study found that individuals who took more steps experienced lower mortality and fewer cardiovascular disease events. Those who took between 9,000 and 10,500 steps per day showed a 39% reduction in mortality risk and a 21% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk. Interestingly, half of the benefits were observed between 4,000 and 4,500 steps per day.
Despite its observational nature, the study suggests that higher levels of physical activity can offset the risks associated with sedentary behaviour. Dr. Hoang Nguyen, an interventional cardiologist, highlighted the significance of the study’s findings in showing that increased physical activity could compensate for a sedentary lifestyle in terms of cardiovascular and mortality benefits.
How might the findings of this study influence public health messaging and guidelines regarding physical activity and sedentary behavior?
