As Belga explained, the other positive effects noticed are the decrease of 38 % risk of dementia, 14 % the risk of diabetes and 22 % that of depression. Walking 7,000 steps per day would also lower the risk of having cancer and falling, according to the study, which warns that this hypothesis is based on fewer evidence.
“It is not necessary to reach 10,000 steps a day to have major benefits for your health,” summed up with AFP Paddy Dempsey, co-author of the study and medical researcher at the University of Cambridge. “The most important gains occur from 7,000 steps, beyond they tend to stabilize,” he added. If the walking speed varies from person to person, 7,000 steps represent approximately one hour of walking per day, relays Belga. How to integrate more movements in your daily life? An expert shares his advice.
Walking more slowly would be more effective in losing weight, according to a study
“We are in a very sedentary society”
For Alain Laforce, a sports physiotherapist, you have to rethink its mobility. “The real issue is due to our increasingly sedentary lifestyle. This inactivity promotes, over time, the appearance of various pathologies, especially cardiovascular, as well as an increase in obesity and chronic diseases,” he said. The expert explains that these health problems are, directly or indirectly, linked to a lack of physical activity, in particular endurance or moderate to high intensity exercises, as recommended by health authorities such as WHO.
This organization also recommends taking, for example, the staircase instead of the elevator. “The WHO also offers a simple test to assess its physical condition: mounting five stages of stairs. Many people find themselves breathless before even arriving at the top, making it a good shape indicator. And by the way, this also makes it possible to integrate a few additional steps during the day,” said Laforce.
Which shoes to choose to walk and preserve your health?
The physiotherapist advises, especially his patients seated all day in the office, to get up every hour, to go down or go up a few floors in order to move. For features doable on foot, he recommends walking and avoiding taking the car. “Go to the gym walking, go to the store while walking. You have to rethink your lifestyle”.
Laforce still warns that it should not be psychorigid. “Imagine, if you do 6,975 steps and there is no shortage of 25, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is to move, you shouldn’t put yourself in an anxiety-provoking environment,” he warned. These small everyday changes could therefore already make all the difference to integrate movement in your day.