Step out and live longer

Increasing daily steps from 1000 to 10,000 a day can lower a sedentary person's chance of dying early by 46 per cent while just 3,000 steps a day results in a 12 per cent reduction according to Australian research.

“Inactivity is a major public health problem, with conditions like obesity costing the economy tens of billions of dollars every year,” said study author Professor Terry Dwyer of the George Institute for Global Health. "This shows more clearly than before that the total amount of activity also affects life expectancy."

Professor Dwyer said the study monitored 3,000 Australians over 15 years and was conducted in collaboration with the Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania.

“The participants were given pedometers and data was collected at the beginning and again approximately five years later during the trial to measure the number of steps they took each day,” he said.

“Participants were an average age of 58.8 years old at commencement and the major end point was death due to any cause.”

Professor Dwyer said this was the first time research had been able to make the link between exercise, measured directly through pedometers, and reduced mortality over time in people who appeared healthy at the outset.

“This study should greatly encourage individuals to ensure they do regular exercise and prompt governments to create more opportunities for physical activity in communities.”

“We know through this research, that daily step count is inversely associated with all-cause mortality. Exercise should now be seen as a potential means of increasing longevity,” he said.

Professor Dwyer said the growth in popularity of pedometers and activity trackers put the ability to measure and realise the benefits of exercise at everyone's fingertips“

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.