Despite evidence from the past decade on daily steps and health-related outcomes, existing systematic reviews primarily focused on few outcomes, such as all-cause mortality. For this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers searched PubMed and EBSCO CINAHL for literature published between Jan 1, 2014 and Feb 14, 2025. For all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease incidence, dementia, and falls, an inverse non-linear dose-response association was found, with inflection points at around 5000-7000 steps per day. An inverse linear association was found for cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer incidence, cancer mortality, type 2 diabetes incidence, and depressive symptoms. Based on the meta-analyses, compared with 2000 steps per day, 7000 steps per day was associated with a 47% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0·53 [95% CI 0·46-0·60]; I2=36·3; 14 studies), a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease incidence (HR 0·75 [0·67-0·85]; I2=38·3%), a 47% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality (HR 0·53 [0·37-0·77]; I2=78·2%), a non-significant 6% lower risk of cancer incidence (HR 0·94 [0·87-1·01]; I2=73·7%), a 37% lower risk of cancer mortality (HR 0·63 [0·55-0·72]; I2=64·5%), a 14% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (HR 0·86 [0·74-0·99]; I2=48·5%), a 38% lower risk of dementia (HR 0·62 [0·53-0·73]; I2=0%), a 22% lower risk of depressive symptoms (HR 0·78 [0·73-0·83]; I2=36·2%), and a 28% lower risk of falls (HR 0·72 [0·65-0·81]; I2=47·5%). Studies on physical function reported similar inverse associations. The evidence certainty was moderate for all outcomes except for cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer incidence, physical function and fall. 10,000 steps per day can still be a target for those who are active, 7000 steps per day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and might be more realistic and achievable.
Source: Ding D, Nguyen B, Nau T, et al. Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health. 2025;10(8):e668-e681. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00164-1.
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