The recommended number of steps per day varies depending on age, fitness level, and health goals, but general guidelines are as follows:
- For most adults aged 18-59, the target is about 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day for general health and fitness
- For adults over 60 years old, a slightly lower target of 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day is often sufficient to maintain health benefits
- Recent research suggests that even fewer steps-around 4,000 per day-can significantly reduce the risk of premature death, with benefits increasing as step counts rise up to about 20,000 steps
- For those under 60, benefits plateau around 9,000 steps, while for those over 60, the plateau is closer to 7,000 steps
- The average adult in the U.S. typically takes about 3,000 to 4,000 steps daily, which is below recommended levels
In summary, aiming for 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day is a good general goal for adults under 60, while 6,000 to 8,000 steps is suitable for older adults. However, even lower step counts provide meaningful health benefits, and any increase in daily steps is beneficial
