Do We Walk Less as We Age?
It turns out, yes! A 2011 review found that adults (18 and older) walk anywhere between 4,000 and 18,000 steps a day. But when researchers looked at children and teens, they found a big difference—kids under 18 take between 10,000 and 16,000 steps daily. And as teenagers get closer to adulthood, their step count starts to drop.
Age definitely plays a role in how active we are. Younger adults are more likely to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for aerobic activity than older adults.
Who Walks More—Men or Women?
Studies suggest that, on average, males walk more than females throughout their lives. From childhood to adulthood, boys and men take more steps per day. Young males typically rack up 12,000 to 16,000 steps daily, while young females average 10,000 to 12,000.
This pattern continues into adulthood. A 2010 study tracking over 1,000 adults found that men took about 5,340 steps per day, while women averaged 4,912.
How Do Your Steps Compare?
The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity (like brisk walking) per week. That’s about 15,000 steps weekly (or around 2,000 steps per day) at a brisk pace—roughly 100 steps per minute.
For even better health benefits, the CDC suggests doubling that goal to 300 minutes per week, which translates to about 30,000 steps (or just under 5,000 steps per day).
But remember, not every step you take is a brisk one. That’s why many health experts still recommend aiming for 10,000 steps per day to make sure you’re staying active.
Easy Ways to Get More Steps In
Need more steps in your day? Try these simple tricks:
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Park farther away when running errands.
Walk with a friend to make it more fun.
Do some house cleaning—it counts!
Take a short walk during work breaks.
Walk around the mall when the weather isn’t great.
Small changes can add up, helping you stay active without making a huge effort!
