Walking 10,000 Steps a Day -- FAQ about Who Can Benefit

Here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions -- an FAQ -- about who can benefit from walking 10K steps/day.

Q. "Is it okay for a sedentary adult to begin walking 10K steps/day?"

Yes, assuming that he or she has consulted a physician and works up to this level of daily activity, it is okay for a sedentary adult to eventually walk 10K steps/day. The good news for many sedentary adults is that they probably already walk at least one or two thousand steps a day, so they only have to increase their daily walking, not start from absolutely no walking. The key is to increase the number of daily steps slowly but surely; a good 10K-steps/day program will describe this in detail.

Q. "Is it okay for a mildly obese person to begin walking 10K steps/day?"

Yes, assuming that he or she has consulted a physician and works slowly up to this level of daily activity, it is okay for a mildly obese person to eventually walk 10K steps/day. Many mildly obese people already walk a thousand or more steps a day, so, as with sedentary adults, they are already part of the way toward the daily goal of walking 10K steps/day. The slow-but-sure weight loss that can come from walking a little more each day has a synergistic effect, too: The more that such an individual walks and "releases" weight, the easier it becomes to reach the 10K-steps/day goal!  

Q. "Is it okay for a morbidly obese person to begin a 10K-steps/day program?"

It can be okay, assuming that this person gets approval from his or her physician, can handle the stress of the excess weight, and works cautiously up to this level. The physician may initially recommend swimming, walking in a pool, or even a special treadmill that suspends the patient slightly. The initial non-walking or modified-walking activity can acclimate the morbidly-obese individual to daily exercise and eventually let that individual lower his or her weight enough to walk regularly and with an increasing number of daily steps.

Q. "What benefits can an athlete get from walking 10K steps/day?"

Walking 10K steps/day, in addition to other workouts throughout the week, can give an athlete several benefits: decreased stress; energy that motivates for more vigorous workouts; and a calming effect to counterbalance the high stimulation of more vigorous workouts. Like swimming, walking 10K steps/day can be an excellent cross-training activity for non-aquatic-sports athletes. But walking handily beats swimming for convenience: You truly can walk almost anywhere and at almost any time!

Q. "Is it okay for the elderly to walk 10K steps/day?"

Definitely, assuming that they have gotten approval from their physicians. Walking 10K steps/day can increase the quality and duration of their sleep, enhance their mental acuity, and condition their muscles and bones. And, although life extension is not guaranteed, walking 10K steps/day can help the elderly to add life to the years that they have remaining. For example, walking can be an activity that the elderly share daily with their friends or loved ones.