Scientists Identify Simple Way to Extend Life by Nearly a Quarter
More frequent steps were also found to be associated with a lower risk of death; researchers analyzed data from a British health study.
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim studied data from over 4,000 British civil servants participating in a health research project. Participants underwent clinical examinations, and their walking speed and steps per minute were assessed using a special device, reports Medical Xpress.
A faster walking pace was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of death from any cause. For individuals with a higher step frequency, this figure was 17% lower.
Theodore Strange, Chair of Medicine at the University Hospital of North Staten Island in New York, believes that a brisk pace may indicate better-managed chronic conditions. According to him, walking speed may decline early as health deteriorates.
Strange recommends starting at a comfortable pace, tracking step count for several days, then gradually increasing it to 5,000–6,000 and aiming for 7,000–8,000 steps per day.
