Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Harvard Study Links Brisk Walking With Longer Lifespan
Researchers studied how people’s walking habits related to their health over time.
They used wrist monitors to track the movement of more than 64,000 people.
The researchers followed the group for about eight years.
They found that people who walked briskly tended to have lower risks of dying.
A brisk pace was about 90 to 100 steps each minute.
The study suggests trying to walk at that speed for 30 minutes a day.
People who take fewer steps may still benefit from walking faster.
The study found a link between walking patterns and health, but it does not prove that walking speed alone caused the differences.
Researchers analysed activity-monitor data from 64,743 UK Biobank participants, whose average age was 62.
Participants wore wrist activity monitors for up to a week, and researchers followed them for roughly eight years.
During follow-up, 1,697 participants died, including 502 from cardiovascular complications.
The study identified a brisk pace of at least 90 to 100 steps per minute for 30 minutes a day as a promising target.
Fewer than 5,000 daily steps at a brisk pace were associated with mortality benefits similar to 5,000–7,500 steps at a slower pace; 7,500–10,000 steps daily correlated with the lowest overall mortality.
- Who
- Researchers analysed data from 64,743 UK Biobank participants, average age 62.
- What
- The study examined how daily step counts and walking pace related to mortality.
- When
- The study was published September 8, 2026; participants were followed for roughly eight years.
- Where
- The analysis used UK Biobank participant data from the United Kingdom.
- Why
- Researchers investigated how step counts and walking speed were associated with overall and cardiovascular mortality.
- Participants
- 64,743 UK Biobank participants
- Average age
- 62 years
- Activity tracking
- Wrist monitors worn for up to one week
- Follow-up
- Roughly eight years
- Deaths during follow-up
- 1,697 total; 502 from cardiovascular complications
- Suggested brisk pace
- At least 90–100 steps per minute for 30 minutes daily
- Lowest overall mortality association
- 7,500–10,000 steps per day