New Research Suggests Optimal Daily Step Count for Lower Healthcare Costs
A recent study conducted in Japan, involving over 20,000 adults, indicates that the optimal daily step count for minimizing predicted healthcare costs is around 10,000 to 11,000 steps. The research analyzed data from individuals aged 40 and older who consistently used a public health app to track their steps, linking this information to health insurance claims over 36 months. The findings suggest that while increased activity generally correlates with lower healthcare expenses, the financial benefits tend to level off once a person reaches approximately 10,000 to 11,000 steps per day. For adults aged 40 to 64, the lowest-cost range centered around 11,317 steps, and for those 65 and older, it was about 10,612 steps. The study utilized a statistical model to identify where the relationship between step counts and costs flattened, rather than assuming a linear benefit from every additional step.
