10,000 steps: Magic number or marketing ruse?

Experts remain divided on this oft-touted health mantra, but they agree it's a good way to get people moving

Ms Jesling Ang, 42, believes in the 10,000 steps mantra. Since joining the Health Promotion Board's National Steps Challenge in 2015, she has continued monitoring her daily step count with a pedometer.
Ms Jesling Ang, 42, believes in the 10,000 steps mantra. Since joining the Health Promotion Board's National Steps Challenge in 2015, she has continued monitoring her daily step count with a pedometer. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Felicia Choo
Updated
Mar 23, 2018, 03:30 PM
Published
Mar 20, 2018, 05:00 AM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

People all over the world have heard - and some may even swear by it - that taking 10,000 steps a day paves the way to good health.

But is 10,000 steps really the magic number for fitness, or just a gimmick to sell pedometers?

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

ST One Digital

 $9.90/month

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

Subscribe now

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 20, 2018, with the headline 10,000 steps: Magic number or marketing ruse?. Subscribe

Available for
iPhones and iPads
Available in
Google Play

MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Back to the top