New research: Walking pace is as important as step count in early death risk
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that, in addition to daily step count, walking pace is also associated with the risk of death.
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In daily walking, not only the number of steps taken but also the pace at which these steps are taken is important for health. A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has revealed that both step count and walking pace are associated with the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-related mortality.
The study examined wearable device data from 64,743 participants aged 40-69 in the UK Biobank database. Participants were monitored for seven days between 2013 and 2015 using devices worn on their wrists; their daily step counts and walking intensities were analyzed.
According to the findings, walking between 7,500 and 10,000 steps per day was associated with the greatest reduction in the risk of early death, regardless of pace. However, the study indicated that walking at a brisker pace, independent of the total step count, could also be an important indicator.
Researchers stated that a faster walking pace, corresponding to approximately 90 steps per minute for at least 30 minutes each day, was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. This result reinforces the interpretation that more intense movement in a shorter time can provide similar benefits to longer-duration, low-intensity walking for some individuals.
The study emphasized that increasing walking pace could be a flexible goal, especially for middle-aged and older groups who struggle to increase their daily step count. It was stated that for individuals who take fewer than 5,000 steps per day and lead a more sedentary lifestyle, increasing the pace could be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-related mortality.
Conversely, researchers reported that individuals who do not prefer to walk fast can also gain health benefits by taking more steps. The study shows that walking goals should be evaluated not only by the total daily step count but also in conjunction with the pace and movement intensity that a person can sustain.