Wearables · Health metrics
Daily steps
Daily step count is a simple measure of everyday movement. What the research says about steps and longevity and why there is no magic 10,000.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
What the evidence shows
A 2022 meta-analysis of 15 cohorts in The Lancet Public Health (Paluch et al.) found that taking more steps per day was associated with a progressively lower risk of death, with the benefit levelling off at roughly 6,000–8,000 steps per day for adults aged 60 and over and 8,000–10,000 for younger adults.
No magic number
The 10,000 figure is not a medical threshold. Any increase from a low baseline is associated with benefit.
How devices count steps
Accelerometers count steps. Wrist devices can over- or undercount, for example when pushing a trolley or during arm movements, but daily totals are useful for trends.
Factors that can affect the result
- Occupation
- Age
- Mobility
- Device placement
Questions people commonly ask
- Do I need 10,000 steps?
- No. Benefit is seen at lower counts, especially for older adults.
- Do steps count as exercise?
- Walking counts. Faster walking also contributes to moderate-intensity activity.
Related topics
Bring your health data together
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts. Paluch AE et al., Lancet Public Health, 2022.
- Physical activity — fact sheet. World Health Organization.