“Taking 2,000 or more additional steps during bouts [of activity] was associated with further benefits for longevity.”
Thus, the minimum number of steps one has to take to reap the health benefits of walking is 1,000 steps during the day – even if it’s in short bursts of activity.
As the participants were older, mostly non-Hispanic white women, further research is needed to determine if the results apply to:
- Men
- Younger women
- Different ethnicities.
The American Heart Association’s fitness guidelines for adults recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity.