Walking more each day could help reduce your risk of serious health conditions, including dementia, depression, cancer-related deaths, and cardiovascular disease. Encouragingly, new research suggests that you don’t need to reach the long-promoted 10,000-step goal to see these improvements, just 7,000 steps may be enough.Health Gains with Fewer StepsA comprehensive new analysis published in The Lancet Public Health has found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day can be strongly linked to better health outcomes and longer life. Researchers examined data from over 160,000 adults and found that this moderate daily step count could significantly reduce the risk of multiple illnesses and even premature death.What Did The Study Find?The study highlighted that compared to people who only walked 2,000 steps a day, those who reached 7,000 steps saw a 47% lower risk of dying from any cause. It also found a 37% reduction in cancer-related deaths, 38% lower risk of dementia, 22% lower risk of depression, and 28% reduced risk of falls. Cardiovascular disease risk also dropped by 25%, and the risk for type 2 diabetes fell by 14%.The More You Move, The BetterWhile step count doesn’t measure exercise intensity, researchers emphasized that every bit of movement helps. Even walking 4,000 steps a day was shown to improve health outcomes when compared to highly sedentary lifestyles. There’s a “return on investment” with every 1,000 extra steps you take, the study noted.Lead researcher Professor Melody Ding from the University of Sydney said, “Those already walking 10,000 steps a day should keep going—but for those who aren’t there yet, 7,000 steps can deliver nearly comparable health benefits for many conditions.”Debunking the 10,000-Step MythExperts say this research helps break the popular myth that 10,000 steps is the only valid target. Dr. Daniel Bailey, reader in sedentary behavior and health at Brunel University London, said the findings offer a more realistic goal for many people, as reported by The Guardian.“This study shows you don’t need to aim for 10,000 steps daily to benefit from physical activity,” he explained. “Even adding 1,000 steps a day can lead to improvements in health. For most people, targeting 5,000 to 7,000 steps can be more manageable and still highly beneficial.”Don’t Rely on Steps AloneHowever, experts also pointed out that not all physical activity shows up as steps. Dr. Andrew Scott, senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at the University of Portsmouth, as The Guardian reports, noted that exercises like cycling, swimming, and rowing aren't captured by step counters. “So while steps are useful for tracking weight-bearing activity, it’s important to remember that other forms of exercise are equally valuable,” he said.Making Walking a HabitJune Davison, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said walking is one of the simplest ways to maintain heart health, reported The Guardian. “Adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. Even short walks, like a brisk 10-minute stroll during lunch or walking while on phone calls—can make a real difference,” she said.In short, if you’re struggling to hit 10,000 steps, don’t stress. Starting with 7,000—or even fewer—and building from there could already set you on the path to a healthier future.