What's the magic number of steps to keep weight off? Here's what a new study says

[multigraincracker]

Just a couple hour walk a day....

Taking 8,600 steps a day will prevent weight gain in adults, while already overweight adults can halve their odds of becoming obese by adding an additional 2,400 steps — that’s 11,000 steps a day, according to new research.


Think more quickly as you age by boosting exercise and mental activities, study says

Studies show the average person gains between 1 and 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilograms) each year from young adulthood through middle age, slowly leading to an unhealthy weight and even obesity over time.

“People really can reduce their risk of obesity by walking more,” said study author Dr. Evan Brittain, associate professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

The new study also found key benefits for chronic diseases and conditions: “Diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and GERD showed benefit with higher steps,” Brittain said in an email.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/10/health/steps-for-weight-loss-wellness/index.html

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. I am no specialists, but I don't believe there is a magic number.

Everyone is different. I do unbelievable things to keep my weight under control. Other people would do the same thing and lose a ton of lbs. We are all different.

[exboyfil]

4. Yep. Those in and out calorie measurements

If they were right I should be losing 0.6 pound/day - it is closer to 0.3 pound/day.

[texasleo]

2. 5.2 miles per day

sure, Jan.

[exboyfil]

3. Firm advocate of walking

Try to get 20K steps a day along with a half hour rowing (so a 25K total Fitbit goal).

Helped me lose a lot of weight along with a change to a Keto diet with some intermittent fasting.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. The steps include ALL steps, but stringing steps together is best

Includes going up or down stairs at home.

Includes parking further out for ding avoidance and walking more steps to the supermarket door.

Don't over-optimize step avoidance, like circling city streets for ten minutes to find parking to save five minutes walking (been there done that). Don't dither about "should I take that upstairs now or is there something else here I can take up at the same time?" (been there ...).

Don't over-optimize efficiency. "Should I rake the leaves or wait two days for more to accumulate?" -- maybe do them now and two days from now.


However, larger numbers of steps as part of an extended activity gives enhanced cardiovascular benefits by elevating circulation and heart rate a little bit for twenty minutes or more.

[Ocelot II]

6. Works for me.

I take two walks a day of a little over two miles each (so 4.5 - 5 miles a day), so with other walking during the day I usually log about 12,000 steps. I lost about 60 lbs. while mostly locked down and I'm keeping it off with lots of walking and a mostly keto diet/low carb diet.

[BComplex]

7. I wish there was a truly accurate step counting mechanism out there. I still haven't

found one! Fit bit doesn't accurately count steps. At least, not my steps!

[mitch96]

9. I measure my stride length with a long tape measure and then multiply it by the # of steps.

So my average step count is 2.5 feet. That times 5ooo steps is about 2.7 miles give or take.
Then I got even more lazy and just used time. If I walk 30 min I cover about 1.35 miles..
Again just a rough estimate.. YMMV
m

[multigraincracker]

11. I go by time and distance.

Old fart and I jog. Have my fast jog and my slower jog. I jog 3 to 6 miles most of the time. I can do just under 12 minute miles and I can do 16 minute miles. If I go fast and long, I'm done for 2 or 3 days to recover. If I go slow, I can go every day. I prefer every other day, so I vary my speed and distance.
Either way, I feel better and enjoy it. Put on the head phones and sing along. I have a 1/10 mile track in the back yard and 10 clicks on my counter per mile. Bad weather and I go to the Rec center and pay a dollar to use the indoor track. 5 and 1/2 laps per mile.
One of the great things about it is that it seems to take away all of my little aches and pains.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. There really is no magic number, or magic exercise.

It's also important to understand that exercise is best for general fitness. To lose weight, you really have to eat less. Walking burns some calories, but not all that much, although again, walking is good for general fitness.

[mitch96]

10. I was curious and wondered where the "magic" 10,000 steps came from?

A pedometer company add campaign in 1965.... I love marketing...

To find out, we must look to Japan. In 1965, Dr Yoshiro Hatano who worked for a pedometer company. He named his new device 'Manpo-kei', which literally translates as,
"10,000-step meter".
Where did this figure come from? Years of scientific research, you'd imagine.
It was an arbitrary number, deemed merely reflective of what constitutes an active lifestyle. On that, an ad campaign was designed. And well, the rest, as they say, is history.

https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/health/fitness-trackers-what-is-the-origin-of-10-000-steps-aday-and-what-are-wearables-a4173306.html

[multigraincracker]

12. The Amish Diet...

The average Amish man took about 18,000 steps per day.

- The average Amish woman, about 14,000 steps per day.

Most of the steps were recorded during the Amish's daily tasks.

Harvest time pumps those numbers up further still.Even on the Day of Rest, Amish got in about 10,000 steps.

Although the diet is high in fat, carbohydrates and calories, food intake is balanced by energy levels. Eating Meat, Potatoes, Dairy & Bread and Still Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Look Fantastic!