“I thought it was based on science”: why the 10,000 steps goal is actually a number invented by a Japanese pedometer ad in the 60s
The 10,000-step daily target isn’t based on rigorous science—it’s a catchy marketing slogan from a 1965 Japanese pedometer. Decades later, researchers finally tested the number and found something surprisingly different: most health benefits plateau around 6,000-8,000 steps.