Ynetnews walking steps guidance

Ynetnews published a lifestyle explainer on May 20 arguing that the familiar 10,000-step benchmark should not be treated as a universal daily requirement. The article said step goals should reflect age, activity level and whether people are using tracking apps as motivation or competition. It also said consistency matters more than hitting one fixed number every day. The piece was written by Eitan Gefen and published in Ynetnews’ Lifestyle section. ### Where did the 10,000-step idea come from? Ynetnews said the 10,000-step target has become one of the best-known numbers in wellness culture, helped by watches and phone apps that turn walking into a visible daily score. The article framed the question as less about one magic threshold and more about what level of movement is enough to support health over time. The Lancet Public Health published a 2025 systematic review cited in reporting around the issue that said 10,000 steps can still be a reasonable target for more active people, but around 7,000 steps a day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and may be more realistic for some adults. (ynetnews.com) The review was led by researchers including University of Sydney professor Melody Ding. ### What number does the newer research point to instead? The Lancet review found that roughly 7,000 steps a day was linked to lower risks across several outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, compared with lower daily counts. A EurekAlert summary of the study said the analysis covered more than 160,000 adults and found a 47% lower risk of all-cause mortality at about 7,000 steps compared with 2,000 steps a day. (thelancet.com) Ynetnews presented that evidence as a challenge to the idea that benefits only begin at 10,000. The article said health gains appear before that mark and that regular walking remains one of the simplest forms of physical activity. ### Do step targets change with age? Research cited in coverage of step-count guidance has found different plateaus by age group. A 2022 review highlighted by the University of North Carolina said mortality risk reduction leveled off at about 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day for adults 60 and older, and about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day for adults younger than 60. (thelancet.com) (ynetnews.com) Ynetnews said age is one reason a single benchmark can mislead readers. Its explainer said recommendations should be read in the context of life stage and baseline activity rather than as a one-size-fits-all rule. ### Is walking enough, or is running better? Ynetnews said its guide also addressed whether walking or running is the better option. The article did not present walking as inferior by default, instead placing the focus on sustainable activity and on what people can maintain consistently. (sph.unc.edu) A 2021 JAMA Network Open study found that step volume was associated with lower mortality in middle-aged adults, while step intensity was not associated with mortality after adjustment for total steps. (ynetnews.com) That finding supports the idea that accumulating movement may matter more than turning every session into high-intensity exercise. ### What did Ynetnews say about step-tracking apps? Ynetnews said step-counting apps can work as both motivation and social competition. (ynetnews.com) The article described daily totals on watches and phones as part of how people now judge their health alongside diet and sleep. A separate JAMA Network Open study found that adults who reached 8,000 steps on just one or two days a week had lower 10-year mortality risk than those who never did, with similar results across thresholds between 6,000 and 10,000 steps. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) That evidence fits Ynetnews’ broader point that regularity matters and that missing a perfect daily target does not erase the value of walking. (ynetnews.com) ### Where can readers find the full age-by-age guide? Ynetnews published the full explainer on May 20 under the headline “How many steps a day do you really need to stay healthy?” The article includes its age-based recommendations, discussion of walking versus running, and the cited studies in the Lifestyle section under Eitan Gefen’s byline. (ynetnews.com) (jamanetwork.com)