A study of midlife women found that those whose pedometers logged more than 6000 steps per day had a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and smaller waistlines. The study was published in November, 2012 in the journal Menopause.
The study of a cross-section of women from a large longitudinal study in Brazil concluded, "Habitual physical activity, specifically walking 6,000 or more steps daily, was associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in middle-aged women, independently of menopause status."
The women in the study were asked to wear a pedometer for seven days to record their steps. The overall average steps per day were just over 5000. In the "inactive" group the average number was a very low 3472, and those women were 61.8% of the total number. The smaller active group averaged 9056 steps per day (31.9% of the total women in the study). The results were adjusted for age, menopause status, smoking and hormone therapy.
This is another piece of evidence that a goal of 10,000 steps per day can reduce health risks and obesity. A simple pedometer or one that is fun and interactive can help motivate women to move more throughout the day.
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Source:
Verônica Colpani, Karen Oppermann, Poli Mara Spritzer. "Association between habitual physical activity and lower cardiovascular risk in premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women: a population-based study"; Menopause, published online ahead of print (limited time only), 19 November 2012 (print publication expected May 2013); DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318271b388
Photo © Wendy Bumgardner
