For years, 10,000 steps a day has been seen as the gold standard for fitness. However, new medical perspectives suggest that walking fewer steps, if done correctly, can still provide significant health benefits. Hyderabad-based neurologist from Apollo Hospital, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, in a detailed post on X, explained why people should not feel discouraged if they fall short of the 10,000-step benchmark.

Rethinking the 10,000-Step Target

The 10,000-step goal originated decades ago as a marketing concept rather than a scientifically backed number. While it remains a popular target, experts now stress that the quality of walking matters as much as quantity. Walking at a brisk pace and steadily increasing one’s step count over time can greatly benefit cardiovascular health, especially for individuals with high blood pressure.

Dr. Kumar noted that the UK Biobank study, a large-scale health database, revealed how every additional 1,000 steps per day lowers the risk of heart-related conditions. Missing the 10,000 mark, therefore, does not negate the benefits of walking.

Evidence From the UK Biobank Study

According to the data, each 1,000-step increase in daily activity contributed to:

• A 17% reduction in major cardiovascular events
• A 22% lower risk of heart failure
• A 9% decrease in heart attacks
• A 24% reduction in strokes

These findings underscore that even modest increases in walking can create measurable differences in long-term health outcomes.

Brisk Walking Packs an Extra Punch

One of the most striking observations was that brisk walking during the most energetic 30 minutes of the day offered unique benefits, regardless of the total daily step count. Short bursts of faster-paced walking appeared to provide added protection against heart disease. This suggests that people who cannot reach higher step counts may still safeguard their health by incorporating short, brisk walks into their routines.

When we asked Dr Nagamalesh U M, Lead Consultant, Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, he said: "People who take fewer steps still reduce their risk of heart disease compared to those who hardly move at all. More steps bring more benefits. But the message here is encouraging: you don’t have to hit 10,000 to start seeing results. A short walk after meals, using stairs instead of elevators, or even walking while talking on the phone adds up. Small, steady steps can build a healthier heart without feeling overwhelming."

Lower Threshold, Higher Impact

Dr. Kumar emphasized that as few as 2,500 to 4,000 steps per day can significantly lower illness risk when compared with a sedentary lifestyle. This is especially encouraging for individuals who may struggle to achieve higher numbers due to age, chronic illness, or busy schedules.

He also pointed out that 1.3 billion adults worldwide live with hypertension, making walking an especially important and accessible form of preventive healthcare. Even small increases in activity, such as adding 1,000 steps daily, can meaningfully reduce complications associated with high blood pressure.

Dr Nagamalesh also pointed out that the bigger concern is not just the step count but avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for long hours makes the heart and muscles less active, which can lead to stiffness in blood vessels, higher blood pressure, and increased risk of heart problems. Regular movement, even in smaller amounts, keeps the heart working smoothly. "When you walk, stretch, or stand up often, blood flows better, oxygen reaches your organs, and the heart doesn’t have to strain as much," he said.

How to Start Building Healthy Habits

For those looking to improve their step counts, experts recommend a gradual approach. Increasing daily activity by 500 to 1,000 steps at a time helps individuals avoid burnout and makes it easier to sustain the habit long-term. Maintaining a brisk pace is equally important, as intensity plays a key role in cardiovascular benefits.

This what Dr Nagamalesh suggested, "For people who sit at desks all day, the goal should not be chasing big numbers but adding movement into daily routines. Even if you can’t hit 10,000 steps, small changes can protect your heart and overall health."

• Take short breaks every hour like standing, stretching, or walking to refill your water. Use the stairs instead of the lift or walk to a colleague’s desk instead of sending a message.
• A quick 5–10-minute walk after meals can also improve digestion and circulation. If you’re on long calls, try standing or walking around while talking.
• At home, simple activities like light housework, gardening, or playing with kids all count as movement.

"The idea is not perfection but consistency. These small, regular efforts break long sitting hours and keep your body active. Over time, they add up to better heart health, without the pressure of chasing high step counts," he said.

A Simple and Accessible Strategy

Walking requires no special equipment, gym memberships, or training, making it one of the most accessible strategies for improving heart health. Dr. Kumar concluded in his X post that people should focus less on obsessing over 10,000 steps and more on moving consistently, briskly, and progressively.

Ultimately, whether someone walks 3,000 or 9,000 steps, the key message is clear: every step counts toward better heart health.

Long considered a standard tool for assessing body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) may not be as reliable as once believed. A new study shows that relying on BMI can incorrectly classify people as overweight or obese.

When a team of Italian researchers used the gold standard technique of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure body fat in the general population, they found that the traditional WHO-approved BMI classification system misidentified a significant number of people as having overweight or obesity.

How Is The BMI Wrong?

A total of 1,351 adults of mixed gender aged between 18 and 98 years were checked for their body weight using the DXA system.

The results, published in the journal Nutrients, revealed that more than one-third (34 percent) of those with obesity defined by BMI had been misclassified and should be in the overweight category.

For those with an overweight BMI, DXA showed that more than half – 53 percent – had been misclassified – three quarters of those misclassified fall into the normal weight category, while the other quarter should have been classified as having obesity.

The DXA analysis found that the prevalence of overweight and obesity across the cohort was around 37 percent overall (23.4 percent overweight, and 13.2 percent obesity, compared to 26.2 percent and 14.1 percent with BMI).

“In the past few years, there has been a lot of criticism of the BMI system due to its inability to accurately capture body fat percentage or distribution, to correctly categorise weight status based on adiposity,” said Professor Marwan El Ghoch, of the Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Also read: Your BMI Does Not Reflect Your Health: New Study Warns How It Misses A Key Health Aspect

Despite these concerns, BMI as a weight classification system continues to be used in the general population in primary healthcare (i.e., general practitioners) and non-clinical (i.e., policy and health insurance) settings, he added.

The researchers urged revising public health guidelines to consider combining direct body composition or their surrogate measures, such as skinfold measurement or body circumference, with the waist-to-height ratio, with BMI, while assessing weight status in the general population.

Waist-to-Height Ratio May Be More Accurate: The India Story

In January 2025, India revamped its obesity guidelines, and the new approach focused on abdominal obesity and comorbid diseases, rather than just BMI.

According to the redefining team, it was essential to move beyond BMI-only approaches to tackle the ever-growing number of people related to other major health risks. They stated that while BMI can be a screening tool, obesity must be defined by body fat.

“BMI should be used for screening purposes, but obesity should be confirmed ideally by a measure of body fat wherever feasible, or another measure such as waist circumference, WHR, or Waist-to-height ratio,” Dr. Naval Vikram, Professor of Medicine, at AIIMS, New Delhi, was quoted as saying to IANS at the time.

Also read: 41 million children aged 5-19 living with high BMI in India: Study

What Do The New Guidelines Say

It recognizes abdominal fat — closely linked to insulin resistance — as a key factor in the diagnosis. It integrates the presence of comorbidities — such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease — into the diagnostic process.

The revised guidelines also introduce a two-stage classification system, addressing both generalized and abdominal obesity.

Stage 1 Obesity: Increased adiposity (BMI > 23 kg/m²) without apparent effects on organ functions or routine daily activities.

Stage 2 Obesity: Advanced state of obesity with increased BMI more than 23 kg/2, and abdominal adiposity; excess Waist Circumference or Waist-to-Height Ratio.

What if your gym routine is doing far more than helping you stay fit? Research is increasingly showing that exercise, especially strength training, plays a powerful role in keeping your brain sharp, focused and resilient over time. In fact, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad also pointed this out by quoting the study Randomised Controlled Trial of Resistance Exercise and Brain Ageing Clocks.

The study showed that resistance training could reduce brain age by up to two years. This means strength workouts could help the brain maintain characteristics that are seen in younger people.

It Is Not Just About Muscles

For a long time, workouts were seen as a way to build muscle or lose weight. Now, experts suggest that resistance training can also support brain health in meaningful ways. Regular strength training has been linked to slowing down brain ageing, with some studies suggesting it may even reduce the brain’s biological age by a couple of years.

This means that beyond physical strength, your brain could function more efficiently, particularly in areas like memory and reasoning.

Sharper Focus And Better Memory

One of the most noticeable benefits of working out is how it improves everyday thinking. People who engage in regular strength training often report better focus, improved memory and stronger decision-making abilities.

It becomes easier to stay on track with tasks, manage distractions and process information more clearly. Over time, these small improvements can make a big difference in both personal and professional life.

What Happens Inside Your Brain

The real transformation happens beneath the surface. Exercise triggers the release of chemicals that support brain cells and strengthen the connections between them.

This helps improve neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, learn and form new memories. It also supports white matter, the network that allows different parts of the brain to communicate effectively.

In simple terms, your brain becomes faster, more flexible and better at handling challenges.

A Natural Way To Reduce Brain Fog

Exercise also helps tackle inflammation in the body, which is often linked to brain fog and cognitive decline. Strength training supports anti-inflammatory processes that protect brain health over time.

This is why many people feel mentally clearer and more energized after a consistent workout routine.

You Do Not Need Intense Training

The best part is that you do not need extreme workouts to see benefits. Experts suggest that even two to three strength training sessions a week can support brain health.

Simple movements like squats, push-ups or resistance band exercises are enough to activate both your body and mind.

Today, the fitness scene has gained much traction among the Gen Z population. With more and more young people spending time in the gym and working out, it is important for fitness enthusiasts to remember the importance of leg stiffness and its impact on spine health. Leg stiffness has the potential to cause unnecessary strain on the spine and back during workouts.

From a neurosurgical point of view, we see that the spine is not just a mechanical support structure but a sensitive pathway through which the spinal cord and nerve roots run. Repeated micro-strain caused by poor flexibility can cause young patients to suffer early degenerative changes that may cause nerve irritation.

We also see that strengthening the abdominal muscles is essential in stabilizing the spine, thereby preventing disc injuries. Early intervention in minor complaints, such as back stiffness or nerve pain, is essential in preventing more serious problems that may need surgical intervention.

The Link Between Leg Stiffness And Spine Health

The muscles in your legs are important for your spine's health. The hamstring, hip flexor, and calf muscles are all significant players in the movement and positioning of your spine. Leg stiffness has the potential to cause unnecessary strain on the spine and back. Leg stiffness limits the movement and positioning of the hips and the spine.

When these muscle groups are tight, they alter pelvic alignment and increase load on the lumbar spine. Over time, this abnormal biomechanics can lead to disc stress and facet joint overload.

In neurosurgical practice, we often see young patients presenting with early symptoms of nerve compression where underlying muscle imbalance and stiffness play a contributory role.

Common Gym Mistakes That Increase The Risk

For young people, the main focus in the gym is on strength training, while flexibility and rest are ignored. This makes the condition of the legs stiffer. Another common error is improper posture while performing certain exercises in the gym. When the legs and hips are inflexible, proper posture is difficult, which causes pressure on the spine.

Sitting for a long time, studying, playing games on gadgets, etc., causes the hip flexors and the hamstring muscles in the legs to become stiffer, which causes pressure on the spine.

From a clinical standpoint, improper lifting techniques combined with stiffness can increase the risk of lumbar disc prolapse and nerve root irritation, conditions frequently encountered in spine clinics.

Tips to Prevent Spine Problems In The Gym

• Warm-ups: It is important to warm up the body before performing weightlifting exercises in the gym. It is recommended that the warm-up process take at least 5–10 minutes.

• Flexibility: It is important to include flexibility exercises in the gym routine, as they help in the proper movement of the legs, which in turn helps in preventing spine problems.

• Proper Posture: It is important to maintain proper posture while performing certain exercises in the gym, like squats, deadlifts, etc.

• Stretching After Workouts: This will help in the release of tension in the muscles and prevent the buildup of stiffness.

• Balance of Training and Recovery: This will help in maintaining the flexibility of the muscles and the spine.

Additionally, from a neurosurgical perspective, core strengthening plays a crucial role in stabilizing the spine and reducing the risk of disc-related injuries. Early attention to minor symptoms like back stiffness or radiating pain can prevent progression to more serious conditions requiring intervention.

Common Spine Problems To Avoid

Common spine problems to avoid during gym workouts include Herniated Disc, Sciatica, Spondylolisthesis, and Muscle Strain. These can occur from poor form, heavy lifting, or lack of warm-up.

In advanced cases, such conditions may lead to nerve compression requiring specialized evaluation and, rarely, surgical management. However, most of these issues are preventable with correct technique and conditioning.

Fitness enthusiasts in the Gen Z generation need to understand that it is very important to develop strength in the body while at the same time maintaining flexibility. The solution to the problem of a stiff leg is the foundation of protecting the spine and improving workout performance. This is achievable through the right warm-up, correct workout, and correct lifting.

Dr. Gaurav Batra is a Consultant - Neurosurgeon (Brain & Spine) at Max Hospital, Vaishali.