The 10,000-step scam

Those who take 10,000 steps a day stay in shape. Working people can get stressed as they often don't have the time to reach this number of steps. What if I told you that from now on you have 2,500 more steps per day? The question is absolutely legitimate, as the 10,000 steps thing has just turned out to be an old wives' tale. What was previously labelled a glorious goal by fitness tracker and smartwatch wearers is said to have been arbitrarily created 55 years ago as a marketing gimmick. As the figure has not been scrutinised, it has persisted until now. The fact is that there is no scientific evidence to support it.

Who invented it? The Japanese. In 1964, the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo. The pharmaceutical manufacturer Yamasa Tokei launched the very first pedometer during the major sporting event. The portable fitness tool had the euphonious name "man-po-kei", which translates as "10,000-step counter". If you stick to it every day, you are said to be healthy and fit. The Japanese manufacturer swept the fact that this figure was not based on scientific studies under the carpet. Especially as no-one really seemed to be interested in the extent to which these figures are substantiated. The proclaimed daily rate was repeatedly cited as a benchmark in terms of fitness over the coming decades.

No step backwards

Scientific studies show, however, that just 7,500 steps are sufficient for health and well-being. In addition, the lower number of steps is also said to be good for the psyche, as many smartwatch wearers get frustrated if they have not taken the steps they think they need before going to bed.
If you want to do something for your general fitness, you should stick to the following guideline: Half an hour of sweat-inducing exercise a day, five days a week, is optimal. If you still need to know this in "step language": that's around 8,000 steps per day.

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