VUMC study: Tracking your step count prevents disease

The road to good health starts with putting one foot in front of the other. And tracking it.

Driving the news: Counting — and increasing — the number of steps you take each day using a fitness tracker can reduce the risk of several diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, according to a study published this week from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Why it matters: Wearable devices like FitBits and Apple Watches encourage exercise by allowing the user to set goals and track their progress.

• Researchers say this study could be the first step toward developing prescriptions for exercise and movement that are tailored to specific patients.

The bottom line: So, how many steps do you need? According to the study, averaging 8,200 steps (or about 4 miles) a day is the sweet spot.

• That distance, the study says, was found to lower the risk of several common and chronic diseases, from acid reflux to depression.