Step counts and health outcomes - 7,000 or 10,000?

In this episode of The Lancet Voice, host Gavin Cleaver interviews Professor Melody Ding from the Sydney School of Public Health about her recent systematic review published in The Lancet Public Health, which examines the relationship between step counts and health outcomes. Professor Ding discusses the origins of the 10,000 steps recommendation, the findings of her study (highlighting the benefits of even low step counts and a potential sweet spot around 7,000 steps), and the challenges of using step counts as a health measure. She also touches on the growing research interest in step counts due to the increasing availability of tracking devices and the importance of considering environmental factors in promoting physical activity. Professor Ding shares insights into future research directions, focusing on policy and interventions to encourage more active lifestyles, and emphasizes the need for equitable access to environments that facilitate physical activity.