Study Links Increased Daily Walking to Significant Reduction in Medical Costs for Adults
A research team at Osaka Metropolitan University has found a direct correlation between increased daily step counts and lower six-month medical costs. The study, published in the international academic journal 'SSM-Population Health,' analyzed data from 20,950 long-term users of Osaka Prefecture’s health app, A-Smile, all aged 40 and older. Researchers predicted six-month medical costs based on participants' age and daily step counts. The findings indicate that estimated medical costs decreased as daily step counts rose. For individuals walking approximately 6,500 steps a day, the estimated six-month medical cost was around 27,000 yen (approximately $180 USD). This figure dropped to 17,170 yen (approximately $115 USD) for those walking about 11,000 steps daily. While costs generally declined with more steps, the rate of decline slowed after reaching around 11,000 steps. Age-based analysis revealed that middle-aged adults saw the lowest medical costs at 11,317 steps per day, while older adults achieved this...
