“You need 10,000 steps a day for longevity”

## The Evidence A 2022 meta-analysis by Paluch et al. in *JAMA Internal Medicine* pooled data from 15 studies (47,471 adults) and found that, compared with 2,000 steps/day, risk of all-cause mortality fell steeply up to about 7,000–8,000 steps/day for adults over 60, with no significant additional benefit beyond 8,000. For younger adults (<60), the plateau appeared higher, around 8,000–10,000 steps. ## Where "10,000" Comes From The figure was popularised by Yamasa Clock's "Manpo-kei" (10,000 steps meter) pedometer, marketed in Japan around the 1964 Tokyo Olympics — not derived from health research. ## Practical Takeaway If you're currently doing 3,000–4,000 steps, doubling to 7,000–8,000 has enormous mortality impact. Going from 8,000 to 10,000 has marginal benefit. The direction matters more than the precise target.