Walking 10,000 steps per day slashes the risk of an early death by 40 per cent.
Walking 10,000 steps per day reduces the chances of a premature death
A new study has revealed that reaching the target makes a difference to heart health and mortality even if a person spends the rest of their time relaxing on the sofa.
Scientists at the University of Sydney used data from 72,174 people in the UK aged around 61 and found that anything above 2,200 daily steps was enough to make a positive impact.
However, the best results were seen in those who walked between 9,000 and 10,000 steps each day as the threat of premature death was cut by 39 per cent - irrespective of how much time was spent sedentary.
Julie Ward, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We know that daily physical activity is essential to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of developing heart conditions and your risk of stroke.
"These hopeful new studies show us that every single step towards making it to 10,000 steps a day counts to reducing risk of death and heart disease."