Here’s why it’s important to increase average steps per day
It’s time to step it up folks, data has shown that we all can increase average steps per day in order to prolong our life. Regular activity, such as walking, can provide a number of benefits and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, depression, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the least active 25% of Americans over 40 might extend their average life expectancy by 11 years if they were as physically active as the top 25%. This means the average life expectancy in the United States would rise by five years if all Americans over 40 engaged in the same level of physical activity as the top 25% of the population!
“Our findings suggest that physical activity provides substantially larger health benefits than previously thought, which is due to the use of more precise means of measuring it,” stated researchers from the Griffith University School of Medicine.
It’s also important to keep track of our steps. Those who measure their daily steps take an average of 2,500 more steps than those who don’t, according to the American Council on Exercise. We can naturally increase average steps per day just by checking our fitness apps on our phones.
There is little doubt that age influences how much walking a person does. Additionally, younger persons are more likely than older adults to satisfy the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for aerobic activity.
It seems that the average number of steps done by men and women also differs significantly. Males tend to walk more from childhood to adulthood. They walk between 12,000 and 16,000 steps a day on average as kids and teenagers. In contrast, young women range between 10,000 and 12,000.
The CDC recommends that adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week, such as brisk walking. About 100 steps per minute is the equivalent of a vigorous pace. To reach the CDC’s minimal recommendations, we will need to walk 15,000 steps a week, or slightly more than 2,000 steps a day. That’s not too shabby!
The CDC also suggests increasing that target to 300 minutes for additional health advantages. This equates to slightly less than 5,000 steps per day, or roughly 30,000 steps per week. Very doable, especially if your count is already very low. Set a goal to increase average steps per day, maybe an extra 500 per day, and you’ll be there in less than a week!
Slowly, our bodies can achieve even higher goals. If you’re unsure on how to increase average steps per day, here are some tips that may help guide you:
- Take stairs instead of elevator
- Park farther away when running errands
- Take a walk during breaks
- Walk in the mall on rainy days