Fit Fact: Pedometers increase activity

I admit, when pedometers became popular a few years ago, I thought they were kind of silly. The main reason? A pedometer didn't seem very useful for the activities I was doing, like inline skating, kickboxing and step aerobics. But, as I spent more and more time in my home office sitting on my rear end, the idea of using a pedometer started to have some appeal. Though I do exercise, I've realized that basic activity, like standing up and moving my legs is also quite useful, particularly for reducing aches and pains and keeping chair-butt from taking hold.

I ended up buying a pedometer and wear it whenever I'm working at home. Just knowing it's sitting on my waistband, glaring at me with its giant numbers encourages me to walk a whole lot more than I normally would and, apparently, I'm not alone. In a a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that people who use pedometers experience "significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure." Researchers also found that having a goal, like 10,000 steps a day also helps people stay active.

We all need motivation to keep moving and I'm a big fan of doing what works. If you haven't tried a pedometer, pick one up...it may just get you moving.

You can learn more at our Walking Guide, Wendy's excellent section on pedometer walking. I especially love her pedometer programs where you can find places to record your steps and track your progress. Her pedometer reviews will help you find the best pedometer for your goals.