Copyright independent
Research indicates that older women who walk 4,000 steps a day, even just once or twice a week, significantly reduce their risk of early death and heart disease. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that 4,000 steps on one or two days a week lowered the risk of early death by 26 per cent and heart disease by 27 per cent. Achieving 4,000 steps on three days a week provided even greater benefits, reducing the risk of early death by 40 per cent. The study, involving 13,547 women tracked for nearly 11 years, suggests that the total number of steps is more crucial than the frequency of walking days. Experts concluded that physical activity guidelines for older women should recommend at least 4,000 steps per day on one to two days per week, challenging the common 10,000-step benchmark.
