Former Olympian Greg Whyte wants to show that boosting your step count can be simple (Image: Ordnance Survey)
Brits do an average of 6,478 steps a day – but many feel guilty about it. A poll of 2,000 adults found nearly half think the “ideal” daily target is between 8,000 and 11,000 steps. As a result, four in 10 say they feel guilty about how many steps they clock up each day, with 53% not meeting the well-known 10,000-steps-a-day goal.
On average, individuals in the UK take around 6,478 steps daily, yet many feel uneasy about this number. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that nearly half believe the “ideal” daily step count should fall between 8,000 and 11,000. Consequently, 40% experience guilt over their daily step totals, with 53% failing to hit the commonly cited 10,000 steps a day benchmark.
Interestingly, The Lancet Public Health now advises a revised daily goal of 7,000 steps for adults, a fact known to only 14% of respondents. Upon discovering this, 45% felt newfound inspiration to incorporate more walking into their routines.
This research was conducted by Ordnance Survey, the UK’s national mapping authority, and coincides with insights from sports scientist and former Olympian, Professor Greg Whyte OBE. He highlights a common error in fitness pursuits: the fixation on achieving an often unrealistic step count.
Professor Whyte recommends integrating movement through smaller, consistent intervals throughout the day, making it a more achievable and sustainable habit.
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He shared while 10,000 steps may be the gold standard there are also benefits to more practical walking goals.
According to the Lancet study, 7,000 steps can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 25%, type 2 diabetes by 14%, dementia by 38% and depressive symptoms by 22%.
Partnering with Britain’s national mapping service, the former modern pentathlete walked up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) – the highest mountain in England and Wales – to inspire people to get moving and show that time spent outside, at any level, can bring many positive health benefits.
While he said the national average is ‘something to be proud of’, given the new 7,000-step daily target, he warned it masks the large number of inactive people — for whom even a small increase in physical activity could have a profoundly positive impact.
“Time outdoors is proven to boost mental wellbeing, strengthen social connections and improve physical health,” Whyte said. “Even simple hill walking works as natural strength training, increasingly important as we get older.
“Not everyone can climb a mountain every day the aim is to inspire people to get moving. Whether it’s a short local walk or a bigger adventure like Yr Wyddfa it’s a reminder of what’s possible when we spend time outdoors.”
He added that people should not be made to feel guilty about the exercise they do each day and should remember that ‘every movement adds up over the course of a day and not get discouraged’, adding, ‘consistency is better than perfection’.
Nearly a third of those polled via OnePoll.com set themselves a daily step count target. But only 15% always meet it as their daily routine becomes too busy or they get tied up with other tasks.
However, most respondents (27%) get their steps in in the morning. The top motivators people listed for getting their steps in were for improving physical health and wellbeing, getting fresh air, and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.
Running errands, keeping busy at work and doing other exercise were among the activities that contributed most to daily step counts. When trying to boost their total, 26% said they take the stairs instead of the escalator or lift, 22% do chores, and 14% park further away from their destination than necessary.
Those that have managed to increase their step count report feeling happier, more energetic and more in control of their weight. Twelve percent also reported feeling less angry when they upped their walking.
“The outdoors really does act like a ‘green gym’ and it’s one that’s available to all of us,” said managing director of Leisure for Ordnance Survey, Nick Giles OBE.
“You don’t always need a gym membership or large chunks of time, even a short walk outdoors can give people a physical and emotional lift. And that could be everything from hiking up a mountain, a gentle ramble in the countryside you’re not acquainted with – or just walking instead of getting the bus.
“You don’t need big daily targets. If we can help people move a little more, a little more often, the impact on national wellbeing could be immense.”
