As few as 4,000 steps a day can reduce your risk of death, but more is better By Sandee LaMotte, CNN Published 7:05 PM EDT, Tue August 8, 2023 Walking a minimum of 4,000 steps a day significantly reduces your risk of an early death, while taking 2,337 steps a day will reduce your risk of death specifically from cardiovascular disease but “more is better,” according to a new meta-analysis of studies. “The more steps you walk, the better the effects on your health, and every increase of steps by 500-1000 steps/day may be associated with significant mortality reductions,” first author Dr. Maciej Banach, deputy editor-in-chief of the European Society of Cardiology, said in an email. Anything below 5,000 steps a day is considered a “sedentary lifestyle,” according to the study. The fact that it takes fewer steps to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease is not surprising, said Dr. David Katz, a specialist in preventive and lifestyle medicine who was not involved in the study. “Exercise directly conditions the cardiovascular system, whereas benefit to other systems or conditions is somewhat less direct,” said Katz, president and founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, a global coalition of experts dedicated to evidence-based lifestyle medicine. The study’s methods were “robust and state of the art,” and support what doctors often tell their patients, Katz said. “First, any exercise is better than none — with significant cardiovascular and overall health benefit at quite modest levels,” he added. “And for the range of activity that pertains to the public at large — the more, the better!” (Adapted from www.cnn.com) In the text, the author uses both direct and reported speeches throughout the paragraphs. Indicate which one of the options below uses the direct speech to express an idea.