How Walking More Helps People Live Longer
The relationship between daily step count and all-cause mortality – umbrella review
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The mortality benefit may plateau or vary significantly by population, with some evidence suggesting benefits level off around 7,500 steps in older women.
This contradicts the common assumption that more walking always equals better health outcomes — suggesting diminishing returns beyond certain thresholds.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for at least 8,000 steps per day to support long-term health and reduce mortality risk.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The mortality benefit may plateau or vary significantly by population, with some evidence suggesting benefits level off around 7,500 steps in older women.
This contradicts the common assumption that more walking always equals better health outcomes — suggesting diminishing returns beyond certain thresholds.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for at least 8,000 steps per day to support long-term health and reduce mortality risk.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences
Year
2025
Authors
Dominika Jurczak, Zuzanna Kafara, Karol Görner, Robert Makuch
Related Content
Claims (7)
Older women who walk about 4,400 steps a day tend to live longer than those who walk only 2,700 steps. More walking is linked to lower risk of dying from any cause.
Walking about 7,500 steps a day helps older women live longer, but walking more than that doesn’t seem to add any extra benefit.
Walking more every day, especially between 8,000 and 10,000 steps, is linked to a lower risk of dying and a longer life.
Walking more every day is linked to living longer for most adults, but how we measure steps and who we study can change how strong that link looks.
Right now, studies about how walking more affects how long people live don't all report things the same way and might be biased, so we can't fully trust what we know—scientists need to start using more consistent methods.