by In the era of advanced fitness tracking technology, keeping tabs on daily step counts has become a common practice. However, the current physical activity guidelines do not explicitly state specific step count targets for optimal health. A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital challenges this notion, suggesting that both step and time-based exercise goals are equally beneficial for reducing the risk of early death and cardiovascular disease.
Physical activity plays a crucial role in preventing chronic illnesses, infections, and promoting longevity. The U.S. guidelines, last updated in 2018, recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. These recommendations are primarily based on activity duration and intensity, with limited data available on the relationship between steps and health.
As wearable technology becomes increasingly popular, step counts have gained significant attention among fitness tracking platforms. The researchers aimed to investigate the relationship between time-based and step-based exercise goals in terms of their impact on health outcomes.
Lead author Rikuta Hamaya, MD, Ph.D., MS, from the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, stated, “Existing physical activity guidelines focus primarily on activity duration and intensity but lack step-based recommendations. With more people using smartwatches to measure their steps and overall health, it’s essential to understand how step-based measurements compare to time-based targets in their association with health outcomes.”
The study’s findings suggest that both step and time-based exercise goals are equally effective in reducing the risk of early death and cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, the choice between a step or time goal may depend on personal preferences and individual circumstances.
*Note:
1.Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2.We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
