Habitual physical activity that adds up to moving 6,000 or more steps a day may protect women's health in midlife, because, whether through formal exercises or just the activities of daily life, this level of activity is linked to a lower risk for developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome in midlife women.For most people, that is the equivalent of walking for about an hour a day.
Studies suggest that people who set themselves goals with a pedometer are more likely to increase their levels of physical activity, lose weight and lower their blood pressure.
But setting yourself a goal of walking for an hour a day can be rather daunting if you are just starting out. It might be easier to achieve such a goal if you break it down and find ways to add in extra steps to what you already do: ten minutes here, and ten minutes there, for instance.
People who have used pedometers successfully to increase their daily activity do things like:
- Park further away from entrances, eg at the supermarket or workplace,
- Use the stairs rather than the elevator,
- Take a walk at break times, and
- Enjoy a stroll in the evening, for instance after dinner, with family or friends.
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