Move! Eat better: Do you walk more than 10,000 steps a day?

All of you who borrowed a pedometer from the Infirmary will confirm that it was a useful experience and that, in order to reach your recommended daily tally of 10,000 paces, you need to add about 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine, which equates to about 4,000 extra paces. Why 10,000 steps?

The slogan “10,000 steps a day” comes from Japan.

But the number wasn’t just pulled from a hat -  it’s based on a study by Dr Yoshiro Hatano. Walking is sacrosanct in Japanese society, where they use pedometers to determine the number of steps they walk every day. Dr Yoshiro Hatano has demonstrated that people who get enough walking in every day have improved health. In other words, you have to burn at least 200 extra calories per day, through exercise, in order to start reaping the benefits in terms of improved health. A 30-minute walk roughly corresponds to the 4,000 extra steps which are recommended but rarely taken.

Is 10,000 steps an achievable goal?

• You already do about 6,000 steps a day in the course of your daily routine (housework, children, work, etc.) without necessarily going for a walk as an exercise.

• The study by Dr Hatano shows that people who do no other sport or exercise on top of this daily routine need to burn off another 200 calories in order to improve their health. In walking terms, that means an extra 4,000 steps, give or take...

• Put differently, these 4,000 steps equate to a brisk 30-minute walk.

Every step counts! And it’s probably easier than a 30-minute work-out at the gym. Recording the number of steps you take can become an incentive to move more and it gives you a good idea of whether you’re doing enough exercise to stay fit, or not...

Why not borrow a CERN pedometer? Click!