8000+ STEPS A DAY HELP PREVENT OBESITY / Science stipulates daily number of steps to not gain weight
- Vanderbilt University study analyzed the habits of more than 6000 people.
- Taking steps, in this case 8200 steps, can help prevent obesity, sleep apnea, depression and reflux.
A study from Vanderbilt University in the United States indicates that the benefits are even greater with each additional thousand steps.
The researchers, for four years, analyzed the habits of more than 6000 North Americans between 41 and 67 years old.
With the information, the researchers observed that taking at least 8,200 steps a day - the equivalent of 6.8 kilometers - was associated with a lower risk of obesity, sleep apnea, reflux and depression disorder. According to the analysis, the benefits increased linearly with each additional thousand steps.
Walking was also associated with managing type 2 diabetes and hypertension, but the benefits did not increase beyond the 8,000 and 9,000 step mark. For people who were overweight, walking 11,000 steps every day reduced the risk of developing obesity by 64%.
The survey included people who already wore the watch before data collection began, which suggests they were naturally active. The researchers believe, however, that the results would not be that different for the general population.