Study finds just 4,000 steps a day (not 10,000) could cut risk of death by 40%

Contrary to the 10,000 steps a day norm, a new study has found that walking just 4,000 a day could be enough to lower one’s risk of death.

Researchers publishing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analysed a study of over 13,000 women older than 62.

They found that women who walked at least 4,000 steps once or twice per week, no matter the intensity or speed, could cut their risk of death by 26% and risk of heart disease over the course of a decade by 27%.

Women who walked at least 4,000 steps three or more days a week further lowered their risk of death by up to 40% and risk of heart disease by 27%.

Interestingly, women who walked over 7,000 steps per day decreased their risk of death by 32% and cut their heart disease risk by 16%.

Head of strength and conditioning at St David’s Marist Inanda, Derek Archer, said that this type of movement and activity was more for one’s health benefit than fitness.

Less movement means the body and the heart must work harder.

"We require a certain amount of activity to keep our systems healthy and reduce the risk of dying prematurely or picking up non-communicable diseases," he said.

He added: "We should be trying to move as much as possible."

To listen to Archer in conversation with 702’s Gugs Mhlungu, use the audio player below: