HEALTH NOW

STEP TO IT

Racking up 10,000 steps a day is seen as the holy grail of wellness, though one Harvard University researcher says we may not need nearly that many to reap the benefits. Professor I-Min Lee observed the daily step totals and mortality rates of more than 16,000 elderly American women. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that at a mere 4400 steps a day, women had significantly lower mortality rates compared to women who were least active. Mortality rates continued to drop as step count rose, but levelled off at around 7500 steps.

WISE UP

Getting smarter in 11 minutes or less is something we can get behind, and that’s the concept behind the podcast Becoming Wise. Host Krista Tippett sits down with notable names like Desmond Tutu, Brené Brown and Elie Wiesel to have conversations on topics like empathy, social change and courage, offering “depth and discovery in the time it takes to make a cup of tea”. onbeing.org

Life goal

People with a greater sense of life purpose may find it easier to follow health advice. A study in the journal surveyed 220 sedentary adults, asking them how much they