By now you may have heard that the target number of steps you should walk in a day is 10,000. But what’s the science behind that and is it backed by relevant studies?
I went to the experts to find out how many steps it takes for a person to lose weight. While the CDC suggests 150 minutes a week of physical activity that’s considered moderate, or 75 minutes a week of more high-intensity activity, in order to lose weight, it greatly depends on your current state.
For example, the numbers will change based on how active or sedentary you are throughout the day, if you’re overweight or underweight, and whether you need to begin increasing your number of steps.
I interviewed both a personal trainer and doctor to find out the recommended number of steps individuals should take in a day, particularly to lose weight. While the consensus was between 6,000 and 10,000, they reveal the reasons behind those numbers as well as when to start increasing your steps. There’s also a difference in the types of steps you’re taking. Brisk? Fast? That’s usually more important than the actual number of steps. Additionally, taking a look at your diet and what types of food you’re consuming throughout the day also plays a major role in the weight-loss associated with walking a certain number of steps every day.
You can read more about how many steps experts recommend taking in a day in this article I wrote for PopSugar.
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