Experts say walking more improves longevity, heart health and mental wellbeing — but you don’t need to hit 10,000 steps to see benefits.

For many fitness enthusiasts, 10,000 steps a day feels like the ultimate benchmark of an active lifestyle. But experts say the number originally came from marketing, not medicine. Still, research consistently shows that increasing your daily step count, whether it’s 7,000 or 10,000 — can improve metabolic health, boost energy and lift your mood.

Walking is one of the simplest ways to counter long hours of sitting. Exercise physiologists say that even aiming for a higher step count can reduce sedentary habits linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, some cancers and mental health issues.

Studies show that benefits begin around 7,500 steps

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