
8,500 Daily Steps May Help Sustain Weight Loss, Meta-Analysis Finds
A meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials including 3,758 adults shows that aiming for about 8,500 steps per day during weight loss and maintaining that level afterward is linked to greater weight loss and better weight maintenance; lifestyle-modification programs achieved higher step counts (around 8,454 during weight loss and 8,241 during maintenance) compared with controls, which did not increase steps as much. The threshold should be treated as hypothesis-generating, with more research needed to establish a precise, clinically meaningful target; overall, increased daily activity after dieting appears important for preventing weight regain.





