Is the 10,000 step a day regimen sufficient for weight control and cardiac health for seniors?
Older adults can strive for a similar step count to younger adults. However, a lower step count may still provide substantial benefits if this is not possible. A significant 2019 study involving older females discovered that participants who walked 4,400 steps per day had a descending mortality rate after 4.3 years than those who took 2,700 steps per day.
In this analysis, the more steps people took, the lower the mortality rate. Regardless, this trend levelled off at about 7,500 steps each day. This finding indicates that a goal of 7,000–8,000 steps may be acceptable for older adults to see considerable benefits from walking.
This analysis did not examine the other health benefits of walking, such as its effect on cardiovascular health. The authors also note that most participants were white, primarily more active, and of higher socioeconomic status than the general population. As a consequence, the results may not be widely applicable.