Studies show that places where people walk a higher average number of steps per day have lower obesity rates. For instance, Colorado residents walk an average of 6,500 steps and have an obesity rate of 20.5 percent, while Tennessee and Arkansas residents walk 4,500 steps and have an obesity rate of more than 30 percent.
The American Heart Association has challenged people to aim for 10,000 steps a day, which they can easily track using devices such as pedometers. Although the average American takes only 5,117 steps per day, the American Heart Association recommends increasing this number weekly in increments of 1,000 steps.
Approximately 2,000 steps equal a mile, which means the American Heart Association recommends walking about five miles per day. This may seem impossible, but the organization suggests several simple ways to achieve this goal, including using coffee breaks as an opportunity to take a short walk and or climb a flight of stairs.