10,000 steps a day ISN'T a magic bullet and obsessing over the target could ... trends now
Ten thousand steps a day may no longer be the sweet spot for good health.
The target could be lulling unfit Brits into a 'false sense of security', experts claimed today.
Studies have long suggested reaching the five-figure magic number can cut the risk of suffering a range of serious health issues including dementia, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
But stepping beyond 8,000 may not even provide 'much additional benefit', scientists also warned.
Instead, walking faster in shorter bursts could be equally as effective to keep healthy.
The 10,000 steps goal originated from a clever marketing ploy by a Japanese company trying to sell pedometers in the wake of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. At that time, there was an increased focus on fitness in the host nation and firms had tried to capitalise on the craze surrounding the Games (pictured, an advert for the original gadget)
Lindsay Bottoms, an exercise and health physiology researcher at University of Hertfordshire told MailOnline that obsessing over the 10,000 target 'would certainly' lull people into a false sense of security about how to stay healthy.
She added: 'Step count is difficult and isn't inclusive of people who aren't able to walk.'
'Research shows that less than 10,000 has health benefits and 10,000 steps is an arbitrary number.
'Doing as few as 4,400 steps has been shown to improve life expectancy.
'We need to encourage people to be active, so if someone regularly only does 2,000 steps a day, having a target of 4,000 is achievable.
'It would actually motivate them more than having a target of 10,000 which is just not going to happen.'
Meanwhile, Professor Tom Yates, one of the world's leading experts in the field of physical activity and sedentary behaviour at the University of Leicester, told MailOnline: 'Moderate amounts of physical activity can be tremendously powerful in terms of reducing the risk of premature mortality.
'But going beyond these levels may not provide much additional benefit — at least in terms of mortality outcomes.
'Evidence does seem to be coalescing around 8,000 steps per day as the threshold.'
Instead, focusing and sticking to a target, such as 8,000, 'will get inactive people a long way in terms of improving their overall health', he added.
'The target can be further optimised by making sure it includes moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking,' he said.
'This will be helpful for a lot of people. However, if targets aren't you thing, making sure you regularly undertake at least some moderate or vigorous activity will also be beneficial.'
The 10,000 step target was initially designed by a Japanese marketing campaign for a pedometer in the wake of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
At that time, there
