A Harvard study of 64,743 adults in the United Kingdom found that walking more or at a faster pace is linked with a longer life, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
All study participants wore wrist activity trackers for a week to record their daily step counts and walking speed. Over roughly eight years of follow-up, researchers tracked 1,697 deaths in the group, including 502 from cardiovascular disease. The average age of participants was 62 at the study’s start.
How the study measured it
Researchers calculated each person’s walking pace by averaging steps per minute during their 30 most active minutes of the day, which did not need to be consecutive. Daily steps were sorted into four groups: fewer than 5,000; 5,000 to 7,500; 7,500 to 10,000; and more than 10,000 steps per day.
Those who walked more steps or at a faster pace had lower death rates overall and from heart disease during the study period. The findings suggest both quantity and intensity of walking matter for health outcomes.
What the results mean for you
The study shows an association between walking habits and living longer, but does not prove that walking alone causes longer life. Other factors, diet, stress, sleep, genetics and access to health care, also affect lifespan. The findings apply specifically to the study population, which was largely from the United Kingdom and had an average starting age of 62.
If you want to increase your daily activity, talk to your doctor or other health professional before starting a new exercise routine, especially if you have existing health conditions.
What’s next
The Harvard Health article examined data from a single study period. Additional research may explore whether these walking patterns produce the same results in different populations, age groups and countries.
Reporting from Health.Harvard.Edu contributed to this story.
