Am I sedentary if I walk 10,000 steps a day?

Author: Jett Schneider  |  Last update: Sunday, December 14, 2025

Sedentary: Less than 5,000 steps daily. Low active: About 5,000 to 7,499 steps daily. Somewhat active: About 7,500 to 9,999 steps daily. Active: More than 10,000 steps daily.

Is 10,000 steps a day considered sedentary?

Sedentary is less than 5,000 steps per day. Low active is 5,000 to 7,499 steps per day. Somewhat active is 7,500 to 9,999 steps per day. Active is more than 10,000 steps per day.

Are you fit if you walk 10,000 steps a day?

Low active is 5000 to 7499 steps per day. Somewhat active is 7500 to 9999 steps per day. Active is more than 10000 steps per day. Highly active is more than 12500. 7. Is 30000 steps a day good? This means you'll need to take 15000 steps per week a little over 2000 steps per day to meet the CDC's minimum guidelines.

How many steps does a sedentary person walk in a day?

The average U.S. adult takes 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day, which is the equivalent of about 1.5 to 2 miles. Walking less than 5,000 steps each day is considered sedentary.

How do I know if I'm sedentary or lightly active?

Unless you do at least 30 minutes per day of intentional exercise, you are considered sedentary. If you're Low Active, your daily activities include: Activities of daily living, such as shopping, cleaning, watering plants, taking out the trash, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, and gardening.

Do you really need to take 10,000 steps a day? - Shannon Odell

How many miles a day to not be sedentary?

As a result, the CDC recommends that most adults aim for 10,000 steps per day.For most people, this is the equivalent of about 8 kilometers or 5 miles. Most people in the United States only take 4,774 steps per day,which equates to about 2 miles.

What are 3 examples of being sedentary?

Sedentary activities most often understood are screen time activities such as watching TV, playing video games or sitting at a computer or smart phone. But it can also include other activities like reading, playing cards, driving in a car or bus or sitting at a desk during school or work time.

Has anyone lost weight walking 10,000 steps a day?

After a family trip made me realise how much my weight was holding me back, I started following a low-carb diet, weighing my food with a scale, and walking at least 10,000 steps a day. I've now lost 80 pounds (5 stone and 10lbs, or 36kg) in under 11 months. I have been overweight most of my life.

How much should you walk to not be sedentary?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking. But you don't have to jump feet-first into the 150-minute goal. Start where you are and gradually increase your activity week by week.

What move goal is 10,000 steps?

Recommended fitness targets can, at times, seem arbitrary. Take the advice to walk 10,000 steps. The lofty step goal translates to roughly five miles and more than an hour of walking a day depending on your stride length and frequency.

What happens if I walk 10,000 steps a day for a month?

The Bottom Line. Walking 10,000 steps daily offers a slew of physical and mental health benefits. For example, it can support healthy weight loss, improve joint health, boost mood and brain function and aid recovery. Also, walking is a low-impact exercise that's accessible to most people.

Does walking tone your butt?

Yes—when it comes to building your glutes while walking, it's all about the incline. If you're on a treadmill, “anything above a five percent grade is going to target the glutes much more than a lower incline [or flat surface],” says Matty.

How many steps should you take a day to lose 2 pounds a week?

The general consensus suggests aiming for 10,000 steps a day as a good target for weight loss. However, the ideal number of steps to burn fat is subjective and depends on individual circumstances.

Is walking 30 minutes a day sedentary?

Walking for 30 minutes daily has many physical and mental benefits, such as improved heart health, decreased risk of chronic diseases, and better mood. You can walk almost anywhere, and it doesn't require any equipment (other than a pair of supportive shoes).

How to get 10000 steps a day when you have a sedentary job?

Get up and go

Getting up and taking a short walk around the office several times a day is also a must if you're going to make 10,000 steps in a day. A quick couple-minute loops down the stairs, around the office and back up again added about 350 steps to my count each time.

Will walking 10,000 steps a day tone my legs?

Walking doesn't just boost your heart health; it is also good for toning your whole body. Your legs and glutes get a good workout and if you pump your arms as you walk, they also benefit.

Can too much walking be bad for you?

Overdoing it can raise your risk of soreness, injury and burnout. If you're new to regular exercise, you may need to start out with short walks or walking at a light intensity. Then slowly work up to longer walks or more moderate or vigorous activity.

Is 10,000 steps a sedentary lifestyle?

Most pedometers provide guidelines as per the 10,000-step protocol. You can, however, tweak your routine to clock 7,500 steps daily. Pedometers classify activity as follows: Sedentary: Less than 5,000 steps daily.

What counts as a sedentary lifestyle?

The exact definition of a sedentary lifestyle is when someone spends six or more hours per day sitting or lying down, and they lack significant physical movement in their daily life.

Why am I not losing weight despite walking 10000 steps a day?

Regular walking provides several health benefits, but certain factors may inhibit weight loss. These include a slow pace, insufficient duration, health conditions, high stress, lack of sleep, medication side effects, and high-calorie diets.

How many steps a day to lose 20 pounds?

For losing 20 pounds, increase your daily step count to 14,000 to 16,000 steps, along with healthy eating habits. For more tips, learn how many calories does your body burn at rest.

How to lose 5 pounds in a week?

If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit. If you weigh 250-pound, you will need to reduce your daily calorie intake to about 1,250 calories per day, an amount that is too low amounting to starvation.

Can you reverse years of sedentary lifestyle?

Small changes, such as breaking up each hour of sitting time with a few minutes of walking or spending 10 minutes per day on bodyweight resistance exercises, can go a long way. By sticking with a plan, developing healthy habits, and getting support from your community, you'll be able to get back into a routine.

How much exercise to not be sedentary?

The research findings based on fitness trackers closely align with new World Health Organization guidelines, which recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity, every week to counter sedentary behavior.

How long does it take to go from sedentary to fit?

Regular exercise will provide you with more significant fitness and lifestyle benefits over time. Individuals can vary however, you can see differences after 6 to 8 weeks.

Previous article
What are 3 things you should not do to your nails?
Next article
Do you need to eat healthy to workout?