10,000 steps was just a marketing gimmick – walking 7,000 steps a day is plenty. 

That’s according to a major health study, which claims the revised step count could help to protect against a range of deadly diseases, including cancer.

The research, published in the Lancet, suggested that walking 7,000 was linked to a 25% lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease, compared to walking 2,000. The risk of developing dementia, depression and cancer was also lower, by 38%, 22% and 6% respectively. 

Those behind the research said that the 10,000 step guide was conjured up by a Japanese firm trying to sell pedometers, and that there was limited evidence as to its health benefits.  

“Although 10,000 steps per day can still be a viable target for those who are more active, 7,000 steps per day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and might be a more realistic and achievable target for some,” the study concluded. 

Image: Juliane Liebermann