Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day?

10,000 steps a day: Do you really need them?

Q&A With Dr. Manny: “What does getting 10,000 steps a day really do for you and do I need to do it?”

It seems everyone has become obsessed with tracking health data these days. Between how much sleep to get, how many calories to burn and even how many steps to walk, it can be overwhelming.

I get a lot of questions about the importance of getting in those steps regularly. It's true, you do need to get moving but just how many steps do you need to take?

10,000 is the number most experts throw around but what are the benefits of those steps?

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Research shows a decrease in illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests people get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. That equals about 7,500 steps per day. But it turns out not all of us need to get 10,000 steps.

"Let's say you're someone who is super sick in the hospital or your body is really deconditioned, then 10,000 steps may not be a realistic goal for your body to even handle," Dr. Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, an internist at NYU Langone Medical Center, said. "If on the other hand, you're a high intensity athlete, you may be aiming for more steps. Generally, if you are able to achieve 10,000 steps, that's usually enough to get you to a moderate level of physical activity which is great."

The bottom line is to remain as active as possible and make each step count by walking at a fast pace with a high intensity to really get your heart pumping.

Do you have a health question? Send a tweet to @DrMannyonFOX

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