Steps or Minutes: Which Metric for Tracking Exercise Is Best?

June 18, 2024

Many people use fitness watches to track their workouts and overall fitness—but is it better to measure your movement in steps or overall minutes of exercise? New research may have the answer.

A study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine on May 20, examined which of these two fitness goals is best for maintaining overall health. The researchers found that both measurements are tied to positive health outcomes, such as a lower risk of death and heart disease.

The findings indicate that what’s most important is simply sticking with an exercise routine, rather than tracking movement in one specific way over another, experts said. Health