Kathmandu, Aug. 13 -- Walking 7,000 steps a day significantly lessens the risk of major non-communicable diseases, including the risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, and depressive symptoms, according to a new study.

Earlier, 10,000 steps a day was considered a benchmark to lessen the risk of mortality and morbidity from major non-communicable diseases.

The report published recently in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, stated that 7,000 steps a day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and might be a more realistic and achievable target for some.

"The report should not be interpreted as saying that 10,000 steps a day is wrong," said Dr Om Murti Anil, an ...