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Getting Your 10,000 Steps A Day To Stay In Shape? This New Study Says Try For 5,000 More

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It hasn’t been scientifically proven as beneficial, but that hasn’t stopped many from trying for the goal of 10,000 steps a day, which is touted as a way to stay in shape. However, a new study finds 15,000 steps might be better.  

Kim Hemmig is a physical therapist with Parkland Hospital System.

Interview Highlights: 

Why increase the goal from 10,000 steps daily to 15,000: “Our jobs nowadays compared to back even just 20 years ago are more sedentary. We’re not moving as much. So I think they’re trying to get people to move more and sit less.”

Is 15,000 steps a day realistic? "I don’t it's realistic to get there unless you’re training for a marathon. Just your average person who works, you’re not going to get that because most of your day you’re sitting down at a desk or not moving around as much.”

Kim's suggestions for getting in more steps:

  • They say to work out 25 to 30 minutes a day. That can be just walking – early morning, evening or your lunchtime.
  • Don’t sit down all day long. Get up and take a walk around the office. If you’re able to, go up and down the stairs a couple of times.
  • Park farther away in the parking lot.
  • Get up a little bit earlier in the morning and get a 20 minute walk in or if you like to jog. Jump starting that metabolism is good for you.
  • Take the stairs versus the elevator.
  • A lot of offices offer standing desks so you can sit and stand as you work.
  • Every 30 minutes, stand up for 10 minutes and then sit back down.
  • Instead of calling someone at work, you can walk over to their desk and get in a few extra steps.  

For more information:

Sam Baker is KERA's senior editor and local host for Morning Edition. The native of Beaumont, Texas, also edits and produces radio commentaries and Vital Signs, a series that's part of the station's Breakthroughs initiative. He also was the longtime host of KERA 13’s Emmy Award-winning public affairs program On the Record. He also won an Emmy in 2008 for KERA’s Sharing the Power: A Voter’s Voice Special, and has earned honors from the Associated Press and the Public Radio News Directors Inc.