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News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Walking 7,000 steps a day a huge boost to health: research
People who walk 7,000 steps a day have a dramatically lower risk of a broad range of serious health problems, the largest review of the evidence yet said Thursday. The most widely promoted target for people tracking their number of steps is 10,000 -- but that figure reportedly originally came from a 1960s marketing campaign for a Japanese pedometer. To find a more scientific target, an international team of researchers sifted through 57 previous studies that covered 160,000 people. The results published in the Lancet Public Health journal found that walking 7,000 steps a day nearly halved people's risk of early death from all causes, compared to 2,000 steps. The study also looked into health problems not previously covered by research into step counts. Walking 7,000 steps a day was linked to people's risk of dementia falling by 38 percent, depression dropping 22 percent and diabetes decreasing 14 percent. It was also associated with lower rates of cancer and falls, though the researchers warned this was based on less evidence. "You don't need to hit 10,000 steps a day to get major health benefits," Paddy Dempsey, a study co-author and medical researcher at Cambridge University, told AFP. "The biggest gains happen before 7,000 steps, and then benefits tend to level off," he said. While people's speeds vary widely, 7,000 steps adds up to roughly an hour of walking throughout the day. Dempsey emphasised that people already managing 10,000 or more steps should keep it up. But he had a message for people who might find 7,000 steps daunting: "don't be discouraged". "If you're only getting 2,000–3,000 steps a day, aim to add an extra 1,000 steps. That's just 10–15 minutes of light walking spread across the day," he said. Andrew Scott, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said that "it demonstrates that overall more is always better". "People should not focus too much on the numbers, particularly on days where activity is limited," he added. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity a week. Nearly a third of people worldwide do not reach this target, according to the WHO. dl/giv
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Scientist holding a donated brain
Australian scientists have found the first evidence of an unusual pattern of brain scarring only seen in people repeatedly exposed to blast waves.
West Australian
4 days ago
- West Australian
Groundbreaking WA research behind major health wins for Aussies
In 1989, Professor Carol Bower and Fiona Stanley made a landmark discovery: taking folate in early pregnancy reduced the risk of neural tube defects – such as spina bifida. It didn't stop there. They followed up their findings with decades of dedicated campaigning in the hopes the whole community would benefit from the dietary supplementation. It worked. It is estimated about 4,000 Australian children have been saved from debilitating and deadly birth defects since they started advocating for their folate research. Furthermore, they pushed for government policy to address the health needs of everyone nationwide regardless of culture, age, education or choice of hospital system. In response to the continued advocacy work, in 2009 Food Standards Australia New Zealand introduced a national mandatory fortification of wheat flour for breadmaking, resulting in a 14.4 per cent national decline in neural tube defects (NTD) from 2011 – 2016, and a 68 per cent reduction in the Aboriginal population – with rates dropping from 2.43 cases per 1,000 births between 2007 and 2009, to 0.82 cases per 1,000 births between 2011 and 2016 – roughly the same rate observed in the non-Indigenous population. It was a huge success; one now recognised by the Public Health Association of Australia as among the country's top 10 public health achievements in two decades. Not only is it a testament to the arduous work researchers do every day, but what most people don't know is that this public milestone can be traced back to Perth, at The Kids Research Institute Australia. Today, the legacy continues as WA scientists work on major health concerns including RSV, kids' physical activity and allergies, taking their research and transforming it into policy and real-world change. After more than two decades of research, modelling and collaboration, an effective RSV immunisation program for all pregnant women and newborn babies was rolled out nationally in 2025. It is expected to keep 10,000 babies out of hospital each year. Head of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at The Kids Research Institue Australia Professor Chris Blyth said the launch effectively reduced life-threatening complications such as severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia in newborn babies. 'Our results show that RSV immunisation reduces the risk of being hospitalised with the virus by more than 80 per cent and has seen an overall 60 per cent reduction in hospital admissions – significantly reducing the number of babies becoming seriously unwell from RSV and lessening the pressure on our health system throughout the busy winter period,' Professor Blyth said. 'I am extremely pleased to see that our research has now translated into a nationwide immunisation program that will benefit so many Australian families,' he said. Play Active is a program being delivered in childcare centres across Australia to boost physical activity in young kids. Despite overwhelming evidence about the importance of physical movement in early childhood, Australia continues to receive a D-minus grade for physical activity levels among young kids – a rating that hasn't improved since 2015. To address this, The Kids Research Institute Australia developed Play Active in partnership with the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Backed by more than a decade of research, the program provides practical tools and support to educators to embed active play into daily routines. Now in action in over 700 childcare centres, Play Active is set to benefit more than 80,000 children nationwide, helping change the course of Australia's physical activity crisis from the ground up. Head of The Kids Research Institute Australia's Child Physical Activity, Health and Development team Professor Hayley Christian AM said the early years were critical for promoting physical activity. 'Given young children spend a lot of time in childcare, there is a huge opportunity here to increase their physical activity levels, in particular energetic play that gets them huffing and puffing,' Professor Christian said. 'Nutrition, sleep and sun protection policies are required in national ECEC regulations but there is no guidance around how much physical activity, sedentary and screen time children should have while in care.' Since launching nationally last year, Play Active has registered 1000 educators and supported over 170 services to develop tailored active play policies, with research showing the program is delivering strong results. Families who introduce peanut butter and eggs to their baby's diet at around six months of age can significantly reduce the chances of them developing a life-threatening allergy, according to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – In Practice. Findings from researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia confirm the strength of the updated Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Infant Feeding and Allergy Prevention Guidelines, giving parents confidence as they begin their feeding journey – even those with a family history of allergies. Head of the Nutrition in Early Life team at The Kids Associate Professor Debbie Palmer said prior to 2016 the advice to parents was very different, with common food allergens generally introduced when babies were closer to 12 months of age or older. It started with folate, but the epochal work continues – often unseen and under-recognised. Even more the reason to talk about it, understand it and support it. From protecting babies from life-threatening viruses like RSV to rolling out national physical activity guidelines in childcare centres, WA scientists continue to shape our health through their commitment to research and advocating for real world change. For more information, visit the website .
