The popular target of 10,000 steps per day for heart health may be an arbitrary goal that doesn't fit everyone, according to cardiologist Sadiya Khan. In an essay for TIME, Khan suggests retiring the one-size-fits-all prescription and instead encouraging individuals to gradually increase their current activity levels. For instance, someone currently walking 3,000 steps a day might aim for 4,000, while someone at 5,000 could target 6,000.
Khan emphasizes that the ability to exercise is not solely an individual choice but is significantly influenced by a person's environment. The presence of safe sidewalks, neighborhood parks, and green spaces are crucial for establishing walking as a regular habit. Therefore, policies that support healthy environments and encourage healthy activity choices should be prioritized.
The current trend of physical inactivity often begins early in life, with a significant percentage of adolescents not meeting physical activity guidelines. This pattern means that many individuals enter adulthood already behind in their physical activity levels, making it harder to build healthy habits later on. Khan poses the question of why physical inactivity is not approached by clinicians with the same seriousness as other major cardiovascular risk factors.