Is walking 10,000 steps a day necessary?

Not necessarily. The 10,000-step target became popular through a Japanese pedometer marketing campaign in the 1960s, not from scientific research.

Studies suggest that health benefits, like lower risk of heart disease and early death, increase as step counts rise and start showing well below 10,000 steps, often from around 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day for many adults. Brisk walking gives more benefit than slow strolling.

The best goal is simply to move more than you currently do and build up gradually.