7,000 steps a day can cut chronic disease risk reveals Lancet study

In India, the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart diseases has increased rapidly in the past few years. Although the risk of chronic diseases has increased rapidly all over the world, but due to the large population, the number of people affected by it in India is also high. Last year, a report by Dalberg’s State of Sports and Physical Activity (SAPA) claimed that the major reason for such chronic diseases in adults and adolescents in India is their not adopting an active lifestyle. In many people, physical activity is even less than the standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meanwhile, the report published in the medical journal Lancet is very hopeful. Especially in view of the increasing health problems in India. In fact, till some time ago, health experts believed that light exercise, yoga and long distance walking or running reduces many health risks. However, two recent reports have claimed that the risk of many chronic diseases can be reduced by just walking 7000 steps every day.

What information does the Lancet report give about walking 7000 steps?

The title of the report published in Lancet is- ‘Daily Steps and Health Outcomes in Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta Analysis’. In this, 57 studies conducted on up to 1.6 lakh people were cited and human activities were analyzed every day. It revealed that walking 7000 steps every day is a standard or benchmark for maintaining good health. Apart from getting health benefits from this, it is also an achievable goal. Especially if we compare it with the benchmark of 10 thousand steps, for which there is no solid evidence in scientific studies.

The study published in the report in Lancet has been done by the University of Sydney, Australia. It revealed that 7000 steps every day is effective in protecting from serious health risks. Especially from cancer, dementia and heart diseases. According to Melody Ding, an epidemiologist at the University of Sydney who led the study, this not only reduces the risk of many diseases, but if there is no disease, then this is also a standard that benefits the body system. She said that walking less than 7000 steps a day reduces some health benefits, while walking more than 7000 steps does not increase those health benefits much, but only increases them slightly.

What are WHO’s standards for reducing health risks?

In the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), more emphasis has been given on physical activities instead of walking to reduce health risks. Especially on exercise. WHO has also issued guidelines for this, according to which adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. This can be in any way – by swimming, walking, running, cycling or any other way. That is, WHO standards are not limited to just walking or running.

So is the standard of 10,000 steps just a hoax?

Dr. Ding, who led this study, clarified that the standard of 10,000 steps is quite popular in the world of health, but it is not an evidence-based standard. 10,000 steps would simply mean walking 8 kilometers every day. But it depends on people’s height, their physical structure, walking speed, etc. In such a situation, it is not justified to expect that everyone will reach the standard of 10,000 steps and get health benefits after that. Long steps and speed while walking are considered to be a big factor in terms of health activities.