Effect of daily steps and sedentary time on death and cardiovascular risk

What is it about?

A greater number of daily steps is known to reduce the risk of death and heart or cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). On the other hand, longer sitting or sedentary time increases these risks. But the exact number of daily steps needed to lower these health risks and whether sedentary time affects this number remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, researchers analyzed data from over 72 ,174 participants who wore wrist accelerometers to measure their daily physical activity and sedentary time. The participants were monitored for an average of nearly seven years to track instances of death and CVD events.

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Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study suggested that an increase in the number of daily steps is associated with a lower risk of both death and CVD. Here, the greatest benefit was observed between 9,000 and 10,500 steps per day. This optimal range for lowering health risks remains consistent regardless of whether a person has high or low levels of sedentary time. Specifically, individuals with high sedentary time (more than 10.5 hours per day) had a higher risk of death if they walked fewer steps, compared to those with lower sedentary time. Also, even a modest increase in daily steps (between 4,000 and 4,500 steps) can significantly lower the risk of death and CVD. Key takeaway: Increasing daily steps to around 9,000 to 10,500 can significantly lower the risk of death and CVD, independent of sedentary time. Even a small increase in daily steps can have a positive impact on health, and reducing sedentary time further improves these benefits. These findings provide actionable targets for improving public health and guiding personal fitness routines.