PLAN’S GOT 5,000 STEPS
3 walks a wk. for longer life
Walking at least 5,000 steps — roughly 2 ¹/₂ miles — three times per week for two years could add three years to a person’s life expectancy and decrease their health-care costs by up to 13%, new research shows.
Wellness platform Vitality and the London School of Economics’ Vitality Habit Index looked at the behaviors and habits of 1 million Vitality members in the UK and South Africa between 2013 and 2023.
Researchers wanted to ascertain the best ways to form and maintain lifelong healthy habits, as well as analyze the science behind how healthy habits can lead to longer and healthier lives.
It’s estimated by the World Health Organization that 27.5% of adults and 81% of adolescents are physically inactive, and if inactivity levels remain so low, new cases of preventable diseases like Type 2 diabetes, will end up costing health systems $27 billion more each year.
According to Vitality, not getting enough physical activity is associated with 5 million premature deaths every year globally, and one in five worldwide deaths are associated with poor diets — with 1.5 billion people expected to be classified as obese by 2035.
Across age brackets
Small changes for a healthier lifestyle had major positive impacts on all age groups, but it was extremely significant for people aged 65 and older, with a 52% reduction in mortality risk after maintaining a habit of 7,500 steps three or more times a week.
People aged between 45 and 65 saw a 38% reduction in mortality risk, while the total population saw a 27% reduction.
The research added that 7,500 steps per day on average led to the bulk of reduction in common-cause mortality, and moving beyond this “sweet spot” showed additional incremental health improvements.
Across all age groups, those who sustained a habit of physical activity three times per week for more than two years can add between 2 ¹/₂ years (for men) and three years (for women) to life expectancy.
“The findings of this study are a clear call to action for policymakers to promote prevention in public health,” said London School of Economics professor Joan Costa-Font.
Maia Surmaya, CEO of Vitality US, added of the data, “Given the health-care cost crisis in the US, following these steps for creating robust habits could lead to a notable change in both health and healthcare costs.”