How Many Steps Do You Really Need to Extend Your Life?

Forget the myth that you need 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy—research shows you can significantly extend your life with far fewer steps than that. In fact, as little as 2,500 steps a day can reduce your risk of premature death, and hitting 8,800 steps may offer the best chance of prolonging life.

Scientists recently analyzed the relationship between step counts, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular risk. While the 10,000-step goal is popular, the study revealed that even small daily commitments to walking can yield powerful health benefits. For example, walking just 2,500 steps a day is linked to a nearly 10 percent reduction in all-cause mortality. Plus, for every additional 1,000 steps, the protection against death and heart disease increases.

Interestingly, the life-extending benefits of walking seem to level off around 8,800 steps per day, although other studiessuggest that spreading your walking throughout the day—such as taking four or five shorter walks—may provide even greater health protection. This strategy might be especially beneficial for older adults, as those over 60 who walked more than 6,000 steps daily showed a marked reduction in mortality and cardiovascular events.

If you're unsure where to start, try scheduling three 10-minute walks into your day. This simple habit could help you hit the minimum step count needed to reduce your risk of early death and improve heart health, making every step count towards a longer, healthier life.