Study shows 8,500 daily steps supports weight‑loss maintenance, challenges 10,000‑step rule

An international meta‑analysis presented at the European Obesity Congress in Istanbul found that walking about 8,500 steps a day helps people keep weight off after dieting, undermining the long‑standing 10,000‑step recommendation.

Researchers from Italy and Lebanon reviewed 18 randomized controlled trials, incorporating 14 studies with 3,758 participants (average age 53, mean BMI 31) from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Japan. Participants who followed lifestyle‑modification programs increased their step count to roughly 8,454 steps during the weight‑loss phase, losing an average of 4 kg (4.39% of body weight). In the subsequent maintenance phase they sustained about 8,241 steps daily and retained most of the loss, averaging a 3 kg (3.28%) reduction.

Professor Marwan El Ghoch emphasized, "The biggest challenge in tackling obesity is preventing the regained weight," noting that around 80 % of people who lose weight regain it within three to five years. The analysis showed that higher step counts reduced the likelihood of weight regain, though more steps did not produce additional loss during the dieting phase, suggesting diet quality remains crucial.