Do you need to walk 10,000 steps a day?

Walking 10,000 steps a day is one of world’s most common fitness goals. But a walking expert says this lofty target might not be needed to enjoy many of the health benefits associated with a regular stroll. Several recent studies have attempted to identify the daily step count that offers optimal bang for your buck, and many of them have landed on a figure in the range of 7,000 to 8,000. “It’s interesting how that number is repeated across many of these studies,” says Dr Elroy Aguiar, an assistant professor of exercise science at The University of Alabama whose recent research centres around step-based measurements of physical activity. “This figure is associated with reduced risks of mortality, cancer and cardiovascular disease.” But that doesn’t mean walking 8,000 steps per day should be everyone’s target – there’s more nuance to it than that. Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing g