New Daily Steps Goal Shows You Don't Need 10,000 to Keep The Weight Off

Key Points:

• A new systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials suggests that achieving and maintaining around 8,500 daily steps during and after weight loss is linked to greater weight loss and better long-term weight maintenance.
• The study analyzed data from 3,758 overweight or obese adults over an average of 18 months, finding that participants in lifestyle modification programs increased their daily steps to about 8,500 and lost significantly more weight compared to control groups.
• Maintaining this higher step count was particularly important during the weight-maintenance phase, indicating that sustained physical activity helps prevent weight regain after dieting.
• Researchers emphasize that increasing daily steps to approximately 8,500 is a simple, affordable strategy to support long-term weight loss, though they caution that this target should be considered a hypothesis needing further study.
• The findings highlight the importance of continued physical activity after initial weight loss and provide a practical guideline for individuals aiming to sustain their weight loss over time.