Walking More May Decrease Insulin Sensitivity, Study Finds

Researchers have found that people who increased their daily step count to at least 10,000 steps reduced their insulin sensitivity by a factor of three.Australian researchers have reported that taking more steps each day can significantly reduce insulin sensitivity in middle-aged adults.

Their findings appeared in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal.

Scientists at the Murdock Children’s Research Institute gave pedometers to more than 500 sedentary men and women, and monitored their walking over a five-year period. The research team found that those who increased their daily step count to at least 10,000 steps reduced their insulin sensitivity by a factor of three.

The study’s authors hypothesized that the reduction in sensitivity was primarily caused by a decrease in body mass in those who walked more.

The team concluded that walking more can improve insulin sensitivity, in addition to boosting heart health and reducing body weight.

Adults should take at least 8,000 steps each day in order to maintain good cardiovascular health and prevent chronic diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle, according to the National Institutes for Health.

In addition to increasing one’s step count, adults who wish to stay healthy may consider taking daily vitamins and herbal supplements, which can contribute to overall bodily wellness.