A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials has identified an association between walking approximately 8,500 steps per day and the maintenance of weight loss following a dieting phase.
The research was presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (May 12–15) and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Study Methodology and Scope
The review, conducted by researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy and collaborators in Lebanon, analyzed data from 18 previous randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis of 14 trials included 3,758 adults with an average age of 53 and an average Body Mass Index of 31 kg/m².
The study compared two groups:
- Lifestyle Modification (LSM) Group: 1,987 participants who received combined dietary guidance, recommendations to increase walking, and daily step tracking.
- Control Group: 1,771 participants who were dieting without additional support or receiving no treatment.
The analysis covered two phases: an initial weight loss phase (average duration of 7.9 months) and a subsequent weight maintenance phase (average duration of 10.3 months). The total average follow-up period was 18 months.
Key Findings on Step Count and Weight
- At the start of the trials, LSM participants averaged 7,280 steps per day; the control group averaged 7,180 steps per day.
- During the weight loss phase, the LSM group increased their daily steps to an average of 8,454 and lost an average of 4.39% of their total body weight (approximately 4 kg).
- During the maintenance phase, the LSM group averaged 8,241 steps per day and maintained an average long-term weight loss of 3.28% (approximately 3 kg).
- The control group did not show a significant increase in step count or weight loss.
- The research indicated a stronger association between higher daily step counts and reduced weight regain during the maintenance phase than during the initial weight loss phase.
Interpretations and Limitations
"Increasing the number of steps walked to 8,500 each day is a simple and affordable strategy to prevent weight regain." — Professor Marwan El Ghoch (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), co-author of the study.
The researchers proposed 8,500 steps per day as a hypothesis-generating target for preventing weight regain, noting that further studies with predefined thresholds are required. They emphasized that the analysis relied on pooled population data, showing correlation rather than direct cause and effect.
Professor El Ghoch noted that approximately 80% of individuals with overweight or obesity who lose weight regain some or all of it within three to five years.
The study's limitations include:
- Its exclusive focus on adults classified as overweight or obese.
- Its reliance on data from lifestyle programs that also included diet and behavioral counseling, making it difficult to isolate the effect of walking alone.