Is It Better To Measure Exercise In Minutes Or Steps?

But should we count the steps or the time we spend when it comes to chasing exercise goals? Should we count at all?

They say it doesn't matter which method a person chooses, only that they choose a method aligned with their personal preferences.

In the new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the researchers said physical activity reduces the risk of acquiring chronic illness and infection as well as promoting longevity.

Current U.S. guidelines , which haven't been updated since 2018 (and scheduled to be updated in 2028), say adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (like jogging) per week.

The authors pointed out most of the existing evidence regarding health benefits of exercise came from studies in which participants self-reported physical activity. Few data points existed regarding the relationship between health and steps.

In the age of smart watches, step counts are now a popular metric among fitness tracking platforms.

In their study, the researchers searched for an answer regarding how time-based goals stack up against step-based ones?

"We recognized that existing physical activity guidelines focus primarily on activity duration and intensity but lack step-based recommendations," said Dr Rikuta Hamaya, the lead study author and a researcher in the Division of Preventive Medicine at BWH, in a statement. "With more people using smart watches to measure their steps and overall health, we saw the importance of ascertaining how step-based measurements compare to time-based targets in their association with health outcomes – is one better than the other?"

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