Scientists bust myth of 10k steps path to good health

> The gains from moving even more were less pronounced, with the death rate 48 per cent lower for those who notched 10,000 steps compared with 2,000. Ding pointed out that 10,000 steps was still associated with better outcomes than 7,000 for some health conditions, such as a 14 per cent further reduction in the risk of depressive symptoms.

“I am clearly not recommending folks who are doing 10,000 steps a day to go back to 7,000,” said Ding, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney.

“However, beyond around 7,000 steps, the additional health gain for each additional 1,000 steps start to become smaller, so there is less ‘return on investment’.”

The study was “an important addition to the literature which helps to debunk the myth that 10,000 steps per day should be the target for optimal health”, said Daniel Bailey, a reader in sedentary behaviour and health at Brunel University of London.

How is a lower incidence of depression not “optimal health”?

Furthermore, they make no mention of walking alone vs walking with someone else (as I see a lot of people / couples do). What is the impact of that extra time from the 3k steps (together) on the relationship? Is that not good for optimal health?