Walking 7,000 steps a day may help reduce Cancer risk, experts say

Summary

• Reaching the popular target of 10,000 steps a day may not be necessary to gain significant health benefits or potentially reduce the risk of cancer, according to cancer specialists.
• Experts say that walking fewer steps daily can still contribute to better health, suggesting that people do not need to meet an ambitious target to benefit from regular physical activity.
• By incorporating manageable amounts of walking into everyday life, people can improve their physical activity levels and support their long-term health without feeling compelled to achieve 10,000 steps every day.

AI Generated Summary

Reaching the popular target of 10,000 steps a day may not be necessary to gain significant health benefits or potentially reduce the risk of cancer, according to cancer specialists. Experts say that walking fewer steps daily can still contribute to better health, suggesting that people do not need to meet an ambitious target to benefit from regular physical activity.

Oncologists have referred to a 2025 study involving approximately 85,000 people in the United Kingdom that examined the relationship between daily step counts and cancer risk. According to the reported findings, people who walked more steps each day had a lower risk of developing cancer than those who walked fewer steps.

The study found that, compared with people taking 5,000 steps daily, individuals who walked 7,000 steps had an 11 per cent lower cancer risk. Those who walked 9,000 steps a day showed a 16 per cent lower risk.

However, the additional benefits appeared to diminish among people who exceeded 9,000 steps daily, suggesting that the health advantages of walking may not continue to increase at the same rate as step counts rise.