Scientists from Kyoto University and the University of California, Los Angeles found that walking eight thousand steps (about 6.4 kilometers) once or twice a week can significantly reduce the risk of premature death. The research was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The scientists analyzed data from 3,100 American adults who were followed for 10 years. They found that those who walked 8,000 steps once or twice a week were 14.9% less likely to die during the follow-up period than those who never reached that point. Researchers looked at total death and death from cardiovascular disease.
Those who walked more than eight thousand steps more than twice a day had an even lower risk of death – 16.5%. The association between reduced risk of death and walking was particularly strong in participants aged 65 and over.
Scientists have stated that regular walking can reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.