Younger people need to take a couple thousand more steps than adults if they want the health benefits of walking. 

Trinity Professor Luke O’Neill told Show Me the Science a new Polish study has revealed the steps you need to take every day. 

“The sedentary lifestyle is bad for your health, it’s been known for a long time,” he said.he study in the  

Based on 17 studies, the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology research found 3,967 steps per day is all you need to prevent the risk of death from any cause. 

“It’s striking,” Prof O’Neill said. 

“From my house where I live to the dart station is 1,700 steps, then I walked from my lab to Newstalk, I walked 3,000 steps, so I get my steps in. 

“And 2,337 decreases the risk of death from heart disease, so even less is needed.” 

The study also found for every 1,000 steps taken, you decrease the risk of death by 15%. 

A woman and child walking together. Image: Alamy

There’s no difference among men and women when it comes to steps, or where you’re from. 

“There were even subpolar regions where this study was taken, and they were all the same,” Prof O’Neill said. 

Your age, however, will affect the steps you need to take to protect your health. 

“Younger people need to take more steps, the benefits kick in between 7,000 and 13,000 steps,” Prof O’Neill said. 

“The answer isn’t clear.

“Younger people are still developing and maybe they need more exercise to get their organs into shape, but it’s not clear why walking is different.” 

Those over 60, on the other side, also require more steps – approximately 6,000 to 10,000 every day. 

“It’s the under 60s who need 4,000 steps,” Prof O’Neill said. 

“The author concludes there’s all these fancy drugs that are supposed to help us live longer [but] lifestyle is just as good.”