Research suggests every extra step up to 10,000 reduces risk even if rest of the day is sedentary

Walking up to 10,000 steps a day lowers the risk of heart disease and early death, even when spending the rest of the day sedentary, research suggests.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that every extra step above 2,200 steps a day – up to about 10,000 – reduces these risks, regardless of how much of the remaining time is spent sitting.

Experts found the lowest risk of early death was among people who took 9,000 to 10,500 steps a day.

When it came to avoiding stroke and heart attack, the lowest risks were in people taking about 9,700 steps a day.

The study, led by academics at the University of Sydney, analysed data from more than 70,000 people aged around 61 from the UK Biobank.