10,000 steps is easy to remember, not the only useful mark. A 2025 meta-analysis found about 7,000 steps a day linked with lower risk than a very low level near 2,000.

Adults 60 and older often see a clear benefit up to about 8,000. Younger adults sometimes gain more toward 10,000. The calculator only adds 1,000 at a time, close enough to try again tomorrow.

That is an association, not a promise. If you have heart, joint, or blood-sugar concerns, ask the person who follows your health before you raise the target.