Pedometers Boost Step Count (Even If You Don’t Look at Them)
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAND OUT BASIC FITNESS TRACKERS to everyone — as long as the individual puts one on, they tend to walk more. Now the great part: We walk more if we wear a pedometer, whether we look at the devices or not.
Regular physical activity is one of the most important ways to improve your health. Being less sedentary (for those who do not have restrictive physical disabilities) can add health benefits to all, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or race, or current fitness level. The benefits accrue while moving, immediately after physical activity, and longer term.
Here is some context for my beating the drum for avoiding being sedentary: Approximately half of all American adults — 117 million — have at least one potentially preventable chronic disease.
Physical activity has benefits for seven of the ten top chronic diseases. Inactivity translates to approximately US $117 billion per year in health costs.
Physical activity guidelines
Capable adults should avoid remaining sedentary. Doctors like me can easily spend most of the day sitting, as can many office workers. Are you a computer programmer? Accountant? You know what I mean.
