Brisk walking matters as much as step count for living longer
Brisk walking at under 5,000 steps cuts mortality risk as much as slower walking at 10,000 steps.
Researchers from Monash University and the University of Sydney analysed health data from the UK Biobank. The study followed 64,743 people aged 40 to 69 who wore a wrist tracker for seven consecutive days, with follow-up eight years later.
Walking at a faster pace with fewer steps, or a slower pace with more steps, both reduced mortality risk by up to 43 per cent. The lowest risk came from 7,500 to 10,000 steps at a faster pace.
This matters for people who cannot commit to traditional 10,000-step routines or work sitting down. Dr Nicholas Koemel says the research aimed to find different paths to the same health benefit.
A trend called slow jogging is gaining popularity based on this principle.
- 64,743 people aged 40 to 69
- Study participants
- Up to 43 per cent
- Mortality risk reduction
- 7,500 to 10,000 steps at faster pace
- Optimal range
Why it mattersPeople pressed for time can now build serious health gains with shorter, faster walks rather than slogging out long slow strolls.
AustraliaAustralians with fragmented schedules can skip the 10,000-step target and get equal health protection from brisk 30-minute walks instead.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 d ago
