Extra 1,000 Steps a Day Tied to Lower Death Risk in Older Adults
Graded Moderate — an analysis of 46 observational studies with over 360,000 older adults; since nobody was assigned at random, the findings show a link, not proof of cause.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 367,843
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- —
Older adults who walked 1,000 more steps a day had a 13 percent lower risk of death, whether they walked slowly or briskly.
A walk to the bakery, a stroll with the dog: a large new analysis looked at exactly this kind of everyday walking. Older adults who took 1,000 more steps a day had a 13 percent lower risk of death. On average, they walked just under 5,700 steps a day. Whether people walked slowly or briskly made little difference to this link.
Researchers searched four large medical databases and found 46 suitable studies with 367,843 older adults in total. All lived independently at home and were followed over time. The focus was not prescribed exercise but walking as part of daily life. The death risk figure comes from the studies that counted steps, covering 19,206 people. People who walked more also did better elsewhere: fewer new illnesses and hospital stays, and better thinking, mood and everyday abilities.
The studies only observed people; nobody was assigned to walk by chance. So it cannot be read from this whether the extra steps themselves lengthen life. The authors conclude that public health campaigns should promote walking.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.