Number of pedometer-assessed steps taken per day by adults: a descriptive meta-analysis

Abstract

Background and purpose: Although a criterion reference of 10,000 steps per day is recommended for health benefits, a literature search yielded no normative standard for daily steps. Therefore, a meta-analysis was used to estimate the number of pedometer-documented steps that adults take daily.

Methods: Studies were retrieved using electronic databases and cross-referencing from retrieved studies. A random-effects model and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used for all analyses of daily step data.

Results: Seventy-one outcomes, representing 6,199 subjects from 42 studies, met the inclusion criteria. Excluding Amish subjects, the daily step count averaged 9,448 (95% CI=8,899-9,996) and was greater in subjects younger than 65 years of age (mean=9,797, 95% CI=9,216-10,377) compared with subjects 65 years of age or older (mean=6,565, 95% CI=4,897-8,233).

Discussion and conclusion: This study provides an estimate of the number of daily steps taken by adults. The number is less than the recommended 10,000 steps per day and is especially low in adults 65 years of age or older.