Brits average 6,478 steps a day – but feel guilty about it. A poll of 2,000 adults found 53% fail to meet the perceived daily step count target of 10,000.
However, only 26% fail to meet the new recommended daily step count of 7,000, with 39% feeling guilty about the number of steps they take daily and 48% of respondents believing that ideal number to be between 8,000 and 11,000.
The new recommended daily step count, according to The Lancet – Journal of Public Health, is now 7,000 for an adult, which just 14% were aware of. On learning this, 45% felt more motivated to walk regularly.
And when they do get walking, 75% believe they walk further when outdoors and find doing so more enjoyable.
The research, commissioned by Ordnance Survey, comes as sports scientist and former Olympic athlete, Greg Whyte OBE, shared the biggest mistake people make when trying to get fit is focusing solely on reaching a specific out-of-reach step count.
Instead, they should be incorporating movement throughout the day in smaller, manageable bursts that can be easier to sustain.
These short stints of exercise can include going for a ‘walk and talk’ with friends or colleagues, speeding up intermittently and walking up flights of stairs instead of getting the lift or escalator.
He shared while 10,000 steps may be the gold standard there are also benefits to more practical walking goals.
Referencing The Lancet study, the Olympian revealed 7,000 steps can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 25%, type 2 diabetes by 14%, dementia by 38% and depressive symptoms by 22%.
Partnering with Britain’s national mapping service, the former modern pentathlete greeted hikers at the top of Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon – the highest mountain in England and Wales – to inspire people to get moving and show that time spent outside, at any level, can bring many positive health benefits.
“Recent scientific research shows that the biggest benefits to a person’s physical and mental health are seen at around 7,000 steps a day. So actually, the national average of 6,478 isn’t too far off that – that’s something to be proud of. However, the average figure masks the large number of inactive people for whom small increases in physical activity would have a profoundly positive impact on their health and wellbeing,” Whyte said.
“And time outdoors is proven to boost mental wellbeing, strengthen social connections and improve physical health. Even simple hill walking works as natural strength training – increasingly important as we get older. Not everyone can climb a mountain every day – the aim is to inspire people to get moving.
“Whether it’s a short local walk or a bigger adventure like Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon – walking the full route or combining it with the Snowdon Mountain Railway – it’s a reminder of what’s possible when we spend time outdoors. But people should not feel guilty about the exercise they get each day, rather channel that feeling into remembering that every movement adds up over the course of a day and not get discouraged.
“Walking 10,000 steps daily is great if you can, but even 1,000 to 2,000 extra steps a day boosts health. And consistency is better than perfection.”
The study showed the top motivators for getting their steps in were physical health and wellbeing (31%), fresh air (29%), and the beauty of the outdoors (20%).
And while 29% of those polled via OnePoll.com set themselves a daily step count target, only 15% always meet it. Reasons for this are their daily routine becomes too busy to prioritise walking (25%), they get tied up with other tasks (22%), or the Great British weather intervenes (19%).
Those that have managed to increase their step count report feeling happier (38%), more energetic (36%) and more in control of their weight (31%). And 12% reported feeling less angry when they upped their walking.
“The outdoors really does act like a ‘green gym’ and it’s one that’s available to all of us. You don’t always need a gym membership or large chunks of time, even a short walk outdoors can give people a physical and emotional lift. And that could be everything from hiking up a mountain, a gentle ramble in countryside you’re not acquainted with – or just walking instead of getting the bus. You don’t need big daily targets. If we can help people move a little more, a little more often, the impact on national wellbeing could be immense,” said Nick Giles OBE, managing director of Ordnance Survey Leisure.
