You only need to walk this many steps per week to add 3 years to your life

Walking 5,000 steps three times per week for two years could add three years to a person’s life expectancy and decrease their healthcare costs by up to 13%, new research shows.

Published by Vitality and the London School of Economics, “The Vitality Habit Index” looked at the behaviors and habits of one million Vitality program members in the UK and South Africa between the years 2013 and 2023.

Researchers wanted to ascertain the best ways to form and maintain lifelong healthy habits, as well as analyze the science behind how healthy habits can lead to longer and healthier lives.

“Healthy habits can profoundly extend the quality and length of life,” Adrian Gore, Founder of Discovery Vitality, said in a statement.

“Our data shows the impact is not only significant but applies across ages, risk factors, and health statuses — maintaining a small amount of physical activity has lasting health impacts. Given the role of behavior in health risk globally, a better understanding of the mechanisms of habits can be a powerful way to improve individual health — and to evolve our healthcare systems to prioritize preventive health.”

Not only does The Vitality Health Index show the lifestyle changes people can make for a healthier life, but it also shows the impact that these changes at the individual level can have on global healthcare systems.