Walking seven thousand steps a day, that's the idea

London, 28 Jul. - Walking seven thousand steps as a preventive habit to slow the onset of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and diabetes is the suggestion of research published today in The Lancet Public Health with more than 160,000 people.

In an article the prestigious journal highlights that, for the first time, a study analyzes comprehensively how the number of daily steps relates not only to cardiovascular health, but also to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression or falls.

The study, led by an international team of researchers, shows that walking approximately 7,000 steps a day is associated with a 25% reduction in the risk of several serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease (6%), cancer (6%), and type 2 diabetes (14%).

The study, led by an international team of researchers, shows that walking approximately seven thousand steps a day is associated with a reduction in the risk of several serious ailments such as cardiovascular by 25 percent (%), cancer by 6 percent and type 2 diabetes by 14 percent.

These are in addition to depression (22%), dementia (38%), and falls (28%), as well as a 47% reduction in the risk of death from any cause.

Walking not only helps prevent heart disease or reduce mortality, but also protects against metabolic, mental, and neurological disorders, the research highlights.

Unlike previous studies focused primarily on heart health or overall mortality rates, the new study is the first to comprehensively examine how taking more steps per day can reduce the risk of different health problems.

This analysis shows that walking not only helps prevent cardiovascular disease or reduce mortality, but also protects against metabolic, mental, and neurological disorders, Borja del Pozo, a senior researcher at the European University of Madrid and co-author of the study, explained to the press.

This reinforces the message that promoting daily movement-walking in our case-has multi-systemic benefits and can be integrated into more holistic public health strategies, he added.

The review included 57 studies, 31 of which were integrated into the meta-analyses. The authors point out that, taken together, it constitutes the most complete evidence to date on the relationship between the number of daily steps and different health indicators.

The study also indicates that even low levels of activity—around 4,000 steps per day-are associated with better results compared to very low activity: around two thousand steps a day.

Regular walking improves insulin sensitivity, stimulates the release of endorphins, reduces stress, maintains muscle tone, promotes balance, modulates chronic inflammation, and enhances brain function. (Source: Prensa Latina)