You Don't Need 10,000 Steps for Good Health

Level 2 · Checked Lesson by: Aron Thode Source:edition.cnn.com, nytimes.com

How to study this lesson

Ask: (1) How much do you walk every day? Do you count your steps? (2) What kinds of exercise do you do to stay healthy?

Person walking outdoors wearing a fitness tracker to count their daily steps.
A person tracking their daily steps with a fitness device.

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Many people think they need to walk 10,000 steps every day to be healthy. But new research shows this is not true. Scientists say 7,000 steps per day is good for your health.

Dr. Melody Ding did this study at the University of Sydney. She looked at 31 studies about walking and health. She wanted to know how many steps people need to stay healthy.

The study looked at people who walk different amounts every day. People who walk 7,000 steps are healthier than people who walk only 2,000 steps. People who walk more have less risk of dying. They also have less risk of heart disease and dementia.

Where does the 10,000 steps benchmark come from? Dr. Sean Heffron says this number is not from science. The 10,000 steps objective came from advertising in Japan. A company made a pedometer and called it "10,000 steps meter."

Dr. Martha Gulati is a heart doctor. She does not trust round numbers like 10,000. She thinks these numbers are not always from science.

The research shows that walking more is fundamental for good health. Dr. Ding says walking more than 7,000 steps is good. "If one is already very active and doing 10,000+ steps a day, they definitely don't need to hold back and go back to 7,000!" she said.

You don't need to worry if you can't walk 10,000 steps every day. Just walk a little more than you do now. This will help your health.

Vocab List

  • Benchmark (n.) — A number or standard you use to compare results.
  • Objective (n.) — Something you are trying to do or achieve.
  • Risk (n.) — The chance that something bad might happen.
  • Advertising (n.) — Messages that try to make people buy something.
  • Research (n.) — Careful study to find out new information.
  • Dementia (n.) — A disease that affects memory and thinking.
  • Pedometer (n.) — A device that counts how many steps you take.
  • Fundamental (adj.) — Very important and basic.
  • Healthier (adj.) — In better health.

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Many people think they need to walk 10,000 steps every day to be healthy. But new research shows this is not true. Scientists say 7,000 steps per day is (1) __________ for your health.

Dr. Melody Ding did this study at the University of Sydney. She looked at 31 studies about walking and health. She wanted to know how many steps people need to stay healthy.

The study looked at people who walk different amounts every day. People who walk 7,000 steps are healthier than people who walk only 2,000 steps. People who walk more have less (2) __________ of dying. They also have less risk of heart disease and dementia.

Where does the 10,000 steps (3) __________ come from? Dr. Sean Heffron says this number is not from science. The 10,000 steps (4) __________ came from advertising in Japan. A company made a pedometer and called it "10,000 steps meter."

Dr. Martha Gulati is a heart doctor. She does not trust round numbers like 10,000. She thinks these numbers are not always from science.

The research shows that walking more is (5) __________ for good health. Dr. Ding says walking more than 7,000 steps is good. "If one is already very active and doing 10,000+ steps a day, they definitely don't need to hold back and go back to 7,000!" she said.

You don't need to worry if you can't walk 10,000 steps every day. Just walk a little more than you do now. This will help your health.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The goal of 10,000 steps comes from scientific research.
    The 10,000 steps goal came from a Japanese marketing campaign for a pedometer, not from scientific research.
  • People who walk 7,000 steps have a 47% lower risk of death.
    Compared to people who walk 2,000 steps, those who walk 7,000 steps have a 47% lower risk of death from all causes.
  • Walking more than 7,000 steps is bad for your health.
    The researcher said that more than 7,000 steps doesn't do harm and may offer additional benefits.
  • The researchers studied 31 different studies about walking.
    The team reviewed 31 different studies on the impacts of step count on health.

True or False

1. The goal of 10,000 steps comes from scientific research. T / F

2. People who walk 7,000 steps have a 47% lower risk of death. T / F

3. Walking more than 7,000 steps is bad for your health. T / F

4. The researchers studied 31 different studies about walking. T / F

Vocab List
  • Benchmark (n.)
  • Objective (n.)
  • Risk (n.)
  • Advertising (n.)
  • Research (n.)
  • Dementia (n.)
  • Pedometer (n.)
  • Fundamental (adj.)
  • Healthier (adj.)

Vocab Match

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Risk

2. Advertising

3. Research

4. Dementia

5. Pedometer

a) A device that counts how many steps you take.

b) A disease that affects memory and thinking.

c) Careful study to find out new information.

d) Messages that try to make people buy something.

e) The chance that something bad might happen.

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think about this article? Did anything surprise you?
  2. What are some good ways to walk more each day?
  3. Do you think 7,000 steps per day is easy or difficult to achieve?
  4. Which is more important: heart health or brain health? Explain your answer.
  5. Do you use a pedometer or fitness tracker? What do you think about these devices?
  6. How important is your health to you? Are you strongly motivated to be healthy?
  7. When you hear something in advertising, do you usually believe it?
  8. Do you like round numbers like 10,000? Why do people tend to choose round numbers when they make goals?
  9. How do you stay motivated to exercise regularly?
  10. Do you have any health tips, and where do those tips come from originally?

Answers

Listening: (1) good, (2) risk, (3) benchmark, (4) objective, (5) fundamental

True or False:

  1. False. The 10,000 steps goal came from a Japanese marketing campaign for a pedometer, not from scientific research.
  2. True. Compared to people who walk 2,000 steps, those who walk 7,000 steps have a 47% lower risk of death from all causes.
  3. False. The researcher said that more than 7,000 steps doesn't do harm and may offer additional benefits.
  4. True. The team reviewed 31 different studies on the impacts of step count on health.

Vocabulary:

  1. Risk: The chance that something bad might happen.

  2. Advertising: Messages that try to make people buy something.

  3. Research: Careful study to find out new information.

  4. Dementia: A disease that affects memory and thinking.

  5. Pedometer: A device that counts how many steps you take.

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