Forget 10,000 Steps: Fewer Steps Boost Longevity for Older Women, Study Finds

• New research challenges the 10,000-step daily rule, suggesting fewer steps are sufficient for health benefits, especially for older women.
• For older women, walking just 4,000 steps daily, even 1-2 days a week, significantly reduces the risk of premature death and heart disease.
• The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that the total number of steps matters more than walking frequency.
• Walking 4,000 steps 1-2 days/week reduced death risk by 26% and heart disease risk by 27% for women with an average age of 72.
• Daily walks of 5,000-7,000 steps further reduced death risk by 32% and heart disease death risk by 16%.

Why It Matters: Older women can significantly improve health and longevity with just 4,000 steps a few days a week.