Counting steps or exercise duration equally beneficial, study says

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A new study compares whether duration of exercise versus counting steps is better for weight loss in women age 62 and older.

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It used to be that getting at least 10,000 steps a day was the acceptable goal for exercise, but this four-year study of nearly 15,000 healthy women over the age of 62 suggests the time you spend exercising might be just as effective.

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The study, published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, was completed between 2011-2015.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston asked each participant to wear a fitness tracker and they were given health questionnaires to complete yearly.

Ultimately, the study found those who did between 8,000 to 8,500 steps daily reduced their risk of heart disease by 40% compared to those who did around 3,000 daily steps and the same risk reduction was found in those who exercised for 75 minutes per day.

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The conclusion was there is no “magic” number for exercise, says Dr. Rikuta Hamaya, the lead study author.

“For some, especially for younger individuals, exercise may involve activities like tennis, soccer, walking, or jogging, all of which can be easily tracked with steps,” she said.

“However, for others, it may consist of bike rides or swimming, where monitoring the duration of exercise is simpler. That’s why it’s important for physical activity guidelines to offer multiple ways to reach goals. Movement looks different for everyone and nearly all forms of movement are beneficial to our health.”

On average, participants engaged in 62 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week and totaled 5,183 steps per day.

“The findings suggest patients can choose between a step or timed goal to lower their risk of death or cardiovascular disease,” the researchers wrote.

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