New Delhi, July 24 -- You don't need to chase 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy; 7,000 may be enough, suggests a new global study published in The Lancet Public Health. And for millions of Indians trying to balance desk jobs, long commutes and erratic routines, that's very welcome news.

The research, based on data from over 1.6 lakh adults worldwide, found that walking around 7,000 steps daily can significantly reduce the risk of a range of chronic illnesses and even early death. This is the first study to link daily step counts not just to heart health, but also to diabetes, depression, dementia, cancer, and falls.

With rising lifestyle diseases and urban sedentary habits, India is witnessing an alarming increase in non-communicable d...