Average steps per day for a woman

While the benefits of walking are many and include a reduced risk of heart disease, improved metabolism and cholesterol levels, and boosted mood and cognition, deciding how much time to spend walking each day is another matter.

Like anything else, getting the most out of walking depends on one's level of commitment.

How many minutes should you walk a day to lose weight

"Walking is a very accessible activity for people to start or continue and absolutely contributes to a healthy lifestyle," says Shelby Johnson, MD, a physical medicine & rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

From distance calculations to fitting the practice into one's daily schedule, here are the reasons to make walking a priority (and tips on how to do so.) 

How many miles should you be walking every day?

Without having to make great efforts to do so, the average American takes between 3,000 and 4,000 steps daily doing everyday things – the equivalent of about 1.5 to 2 miles.

That amount alone has been shown to lower one's mortality risk.

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