HEALTH

Let’s Get Moving with Maria: Steps to a healthier you

Sep 24, 2021, 6:27 PM | Updated: Aug 3, 2022, 12:54 pm

...

SALT LAKE CITY — We have been told by campaigns, pedometers, and our health apps that the magic number of steps we need to reach every day to stay healthy is 10,000, but is that true?

In the latest episode of Let’s Get Moving with Maria, Maria talks with Brett McIff, the Physical Activities Coordinator for the Utah Department of Health, about a new study that says getting 7,000 steps daily is proven to have amazing benefits to your life.

In the study there were 2,110 participants, aged 38 to 50, with a mean follow-up of 10.8 years. According to McIff, this means we can make great assumptions on the data they studied.

Every step counts!

One of the biggest take aways from the study is that the participants taking at least 7,000 steps per day, compared with those taking fewer than 7,000 steps per day, had a 50% to 70% lower risk of mortality.

This gives a great place to start if we want to better our overall health at a later stage in our lives.

The participants who saw a bigger increase in their overall health were the ones whose routines went from a few thousand steps to the 7,000 steps.

Do what works for you

This doesn’t mean you need to keep a daily log of your steps. McIff recommends to keep doing what works for you, if you use other ways to keep track from like walking for a certain amount of time or walking for a certain distance, keep doing so.

Intensity was not measured, and it is up to your discretion on how intense your workout is.

Of course, if you want to do more steps a day, McIff recommends to keep doing so, it can only be better for you and will keep you healthier.

Listen to the full episode!

Follow Let’s Get Moving with Maria Shilaos on Facebook and Instagram.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Health

Taylor Farms Mexico's facilities in Doctor Mora, Guanajuato state, Mexico, Monday. The facility was...

Siddhi Mahatole, Reuters

Taylor Farms temporarily shuts Mexico facility as US cyclosporiasis cases rise, source says

Taylor Farms on Thursday temporarily closed its Mexico facility linked to cyclosporiasis cases. The CDC has reported 4,173 cases across 41 states.

4 days ago

Utah Deaf mentor and performer Jojo Savea is one of the American Sign Language performers bringing ...

Eric Cabrera

Deaf Utah performer, interpreter, helps kids experience favorite shows in a new way through ASL

Utah mentor and performer Jojo Savea is one of the American Sign Language performers bringing popular children's programming, including "CoComelon," to deaf audiences.

5 days ago

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump at the Whit...

Ahmed Aboulenein, Reuters

US pauses $1B in Medicaid payments to California, Minnesota

The Trump administration is pausing $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota ​over "suspected fraud and noncompliance," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday.

5 days ago

Paris Hilton protests outside the Provo Canyon School, where she says she suffered abuse as a teen,...

Logan Stefanich, KSL

State revokes license of Provo Canyon School’s Provo campus amid lawsuit, abuse allegations

Provo Canyon School's Provo campus license was revoked Friday by the state of Utah following continued allegations of abuse and numerous compliance citations.

10 days ago

A Taco Bell fast food restaurant is shown Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Taylor, Mich. Federal health o...

Bill Barrow and Mike Stobbe, Associated Press

Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite

Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.

10 days ago

Walid Mawad arranges berries at a fruit stand in Cleveland, Ohio, July 16, 2025. Produce that has n...

Lois M. Collins, Deseret News

CDC warns of ‘very big shift’ as cyclosporiasis cases surge

Cyclosporiasis cases have surged in the US, and the CDC said states are reporting an "unusually high number" of circulating cases. The agency also said that outbreaks in four states are likely linked.

12 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bear Lake

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway.   There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hopping in the car with your favorite snacks in tow and heading out for a […]

...

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression.    Utah’s mental health crisis is leaving many residents caught in an uncomfortable middle ground: struggling too much for weekly therapy alone, but unable to step away from work, parenting or daily life for inpatient treatment. As demand […]

...

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression.    The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, managing side effects and wondering if this is simply how life is going to feel.   According to the World Health Organization, depression affects […]

mental health...

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

...

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

Let’s Get Moving with Maria: Steps to a healthier you