Researchers have found that walking more intensely may offer health benefits similar to walking more steps each day. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that walking at a faster pace—specifically 80 steps per minute—can be as effective for health as walking more steps at a slower pace. For example, walking fewer than 5,000 steps per day at this brisk pace may provide similar benefits to walking 5,000 to 7,500 steps per day at a slower pace of 60 steps per minute. The study involved nearly 65,000 people, on average 61 years old, who wore activity trackers for seven days. A second group of about 70,000 participants was also tracked to assess their risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Participants’ daily step counts were categorized into four groups: 0–5,000 steps, 5,000–7,500 steps, 7,500–10,000 steps, and more than 10,000 steps. Researchers also recorded each person’s fastest sustained walking pace during their most active half-hour of the day. Over an eight-year follow-up, 1,697 people in the study died from any cause, and 502 died from cardiovascular disease. The analysis revealed that people who walked fewer than 5,000 steps per day but at a higher pace (at least 80 steps per minute) had a significantly lower risk of death compared to those who walked fewer steps at a slower pace. This suggests that walking more intensely, even for shorter durations, may provide comparable health benefits to walking more steps at a lower intensity. Maintaining a faster pace for at least 30 minutes a day was linked to a progressively lower risk of death among those who walked fewer than 7,500 steps daily. Those who walked between 7,500 and 10,000 steps per day had the lowest risk of early death, regardless of their walking pace. Similar patterns were observed for the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, noted that walking at a faster pace could be as beneficial as taking more steps. However, she emphasized that the study shows a correlation, not a cause-and-effect relationship. She recommended starting with a pace that feels comfortable and gradually increasing intensity over time. Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, added that the findings support growing evidence that the intensity of physical activity is important in preventing conditions like stroke, alongside the total amount of exercise. She also highlighted the importance of monitoring blood pressure and following the advice of healthcare professionals, especially for stroke survivors.