For most adults aged 18-59 years, the recommended daily step count for good health and longevity is typically between 7,000 and 10,000 steps. Adults aged 60 and older are advised to aim for around 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day. Studies have found a "sweet spot" for longevity somewhere in this range, with health benefits increasing as step counts rise up to these levels and then leveling off. The research shows that walking 7,000 steps a day can reduce the risk of dying from any cause by about 47% compared to walking only 2,000 steps. Even smaller increases in step count can bring significant health benefits, so starting with a manageable goal (like adding 1,000 steps to your current daily count) and gradually increasing is effective. The overall message is that more steps generally correspond to better health outcomes with no strict need to hit exactly 10,000 steps; 7,000 steps per day is a good attainable target with substantial benefits.
If you are starting out or have specific health conditions, you might want to set a lower initial target and build up gradually to suit your fitness level and lifestyle.
