Everyone who knows anything about fitness has likely heard about the potential health benefits of walking 10,000 steps per day. So, what's up with that?

Counting steps has been a trend for quite some time. Electronic fitness trackers and apps have become integral parts of any exercise program. At some point along with the human fitness journey, the idea was born that 10,000 steps - equivalent to around five miles - should be the ideal daily goal. The concept can be traced back to the 1960s.

The 10,000-step standard was created by the Japanese company Yamasa in 1965 to coincide with the release of its latest creation, the world's first step tracker. Named Manpo-kei, or "10,000 step meter," the device - along with the company's marketing campaign - inadvertently set off a health trend that continues to this day.

Although there was initially no evidence to support the idea that this number of steps was the best choice for bolstering health, decades of research has proven that it may actually be!

One such study in the JAMA Neurology medical journal found that walking about 10,000 steps per day was linked to fewer cases of cardiovascular disease and dementia, as well as reduced occurrences of 13 types of cancer. Furthermore, a companion study found that for every 2,000 steps taken per day, risk of premature death was lowered by 8% to 11%. The findings also revealed that higher intensity and more vigorous walking yielded even better results.

The evidence is clear: taking as many steps as possible each day offers a range of health benefits, from boosted heart health, to enhanced mood, to more energy, to stronger lungs, bones, and muscles.

That's what's up with 10,000 steps!