Hey readers– this news just in from science: for women in their 60s (which includes me), when measuring physical exertion, it’s just as useful to use step counts as time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity. What does this mean? Among other things, that you can use a fancy fitness watch, OR you can use one of these to keep track of your workout.
How did science figure this out? Here are some of the deets from the study:
- researchers examined the associations of moderate-to-vigorous activity time vs. step counts with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease
- 14,399 women (ages 62+) from ongoing Women’s Health Study participated (thank you women!)
- participants measured their physical activity with an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days
- median time was 62 minutes/week or 5183 steps a day
And what did they find? You’ll like this: in both groups (steps and time), their relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease or other causes was lower compared to the rest of the participants in the Women’s Health Study. Which means that for those of us who like to count health-related things, we can count steps or we can count time. The study sums it up thusly:
Step count–based goals should be considered for future guidelines along with time-based goals, allowing for the accommodation of personal preferences.
Excellent. On numerous fronts. Please note, also, something that might not be obvious on first reading: in the study, the average step counts and time spent each week in physical activity were pretty modest: 5183 steps a day or 62 minutes a week. I’m not making any recommendations here (nor am I in a position to do so). Rather, I’m noting that modest amounts of movement were shown in this study to yield very nicely positive results. Yay for that!
But this leaves us with a problem: how to decide between counting steps and counting time for our workouts? I say, embrace either. Or both. Or we can follow the advice of Dick Van Dyke from Mary Poppins, and step in time.
However, for insurance purposes, I would not recommend doing your workout on a rooftop at night. Please use discretion.
Readers, do you use time or steps for some of your workouts? Which makes more sense or works better for you? I’d love to hear from you.
Ever since someone showed me that my iPhone counted my steps without me knowing, I’ve been semi hooked on the number. And then I wonder about my relatively step-less days when I cycle or do cross fit or dance (because my phone is on the sidelines, so no steps counted). And I’ve wondered (not really) whether steps are all that matters. So it’s nice to have some confirmation that they are just one among many measures of our health and projected longevity!