Taking THIS number of steps a day can reduce the risk of chronic diseases

Walking is one of the most recommended exercises to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive impairment and death, especially if the goal is to reach the 7 thousand steps daily, according to a study published Wednesday in The Lancet .

Experts from the University of Sydney (Australia) analyzed data from more than 160,000 adults to find that even a goal of 4,000 steps a day, compared to a low average of 2,000, can provide significant health benefits.

The ideal is to complete 7 thousand steps daily, a more realistic target than the 10,000 recommended so far, the authors emphasize.

Walking about 5 kilometers a day, which is equivalent to approximately 7,000 steps with an average stride, is associated, they suggest, with a reduction in the risk of several serious health problems, including all-cause mortality by up to 47 percent.

They also found benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease , the risk of which fell by 25% when going from 2,000 to 7,000 steps a day; cancer (6%); type 2 diabetes (14%); dementia (38%); depression (22%), and falls (28%).

Previous studies have focused on the impact of this moderate physical activity on heart health or overall mortality rates, while this research examines, for the first time, its effects on different health conditions, experts explain.

Therefore, they emphasize the importance of using daily computing methods to measure this type of physical exercise in a "simple way."

They also suggest that the study's results could contribute to the development of future public health guidelines and recommendations, encouraging more people to track their steps as a practical way to improve their health.

They insist that the recommended minimum of 4,000 steps a day already produces positive effects compared to the low activity of 2,000. Although they point out that in some conditions, such as heart disease, the benefits increase beyond 7,000, while in most, they tend to stabilize.

In this regard, they demystify the goal of 10,000 strides a day, which is somewhat "unrealistic" for those who are "less active," while maintaining that 7,000 can provide significant health improvements.

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