The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is preparing its first official step-count guidance, along with new guidance on muscle-strengthening activity, as a 2027 supplement to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. No step target has been proposed yet. Right now HHS is only collecting evidence. Anyone can submit a written comment until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 12, 2026.
This article is based on the Federal Register notice (FR Doc. 2026-20833) as filed for public inspection, and on the studies cited below, all checked on 12 October 2026. It is general information, not medical advice.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A notice requesting written public comments. It is not a rule or proposed rule. |
| Issued by | Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS |
| What it will inform | Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition Supplement: 2027 Steps and Muscle-Strengthening Guidance |
| Federal Register publication | October 13, 2026 (FR Doc. 2026-20833; 91 FR 64935) |
| Comment deadline | 11:59 p.m. ET, November 12, 2026 |
| Where to comment | Regulations.gov, docket HHS-OASH-2026-0463 |
| Proposed step number | None |
What HHS announced
The Federal Register notice says that “HHS is working on supplementing the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition by adding new, science-based step count and muscle-strengthening activity guidance.”
The notice makes one request. HHS wants comments that “highlight existing high-quality, evidence-based reports, programs, or campaigns related to steps and/or muscle-strengthening physical activity and related positive health outcomes.” It does not list specific questions, propose new wording or name a release date beyond the “2027” in the supplement’s title. HHS says comments “will be reviewed by the team of federal experts supporting the Physical Activity Guidelines work.” The notice is signed by Katrina L. Piercy, Deputy Director of ODPHP.
The guidelines themselves were first published in 2008, and the second edition followed in 2018. The notice calls them “the benchmark and primary, authoritative voice of the federal government” on physical activity and health.
What the current guidelines already say
Nothing changes for now. According to ODPHP’s summary of the current guidelines, adults should:
- Move more and sit less. “Any amount of physical activity has some health benefits.”
- Get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week, such as brisk walking. Vigorous activity counts as well: 75 to 150 minutes is the equivalent range in the full 2018 guidelines.
- Do muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days a week, “like lifting weights or doing push-ups.” The full text says this should be of moderate or greater intensity and work all major muscle groups.
The current guidelines contain no daily step target. The notice does not say the 150-minute aerobic recommendation is under review. It describes the 2027 guidance as a supplement to the second edition, not a replacement for it.
Why there has never been a US step target
The 2018 guidelines considered step counts and decided not to set a target. A review written by members of the 2018 advisory committee (Kraus et al., 2019) found only 11 relevant studies published between 2011 and March 2018. The authors agreed that more steps were linked to better health, but concluded that “more independent studies will be required before these observations can be translated into public health guidelines.”
The evidence base has grown considerably since then, mostly because wearables made step data easy to collect in large groups of people. The new notice does not say why HHS is acting now. The two studies below are the main ones it is likely to have to weigh.
What the step-count research shows
Paluch et al., 2022. This meta-analysis in The Lancet Public Health pooled data from 15 cohorts covering 47,471 adults. Compared with the least active quarter of people (median about 3,550 steps a day), the most active quarter (median about 10,900) had a 53% lower risk of death during follow-up. The benefit levelled off at about 6,000–8,000 steps a day in adults aged 60 and over and about 8,000–10,000 steps a day in adults under 60.
Ding et al., 2025. This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis, also in The Lancet Public Health, covered 57 studies from 35 cohorts. It looked at more outcomes than mortality alone. Compared with 2,000 steps a day, 7,000 steps a day was associated with:
| Outcome | Associated risk difference | Certainty of evidence (GRADE) |
|---|---|---|
| All-cause mortality | 47% lower | Moderate |
| Cardiovascular disease incidence | 25% lower | Moderate |
| Cancer mortality | 37% lower | Moderate |
| Type 2 diabetes | 14% lower | Moderate |
| Dementia | 38% lower | Moderate |
| Depressive symptoms | 22% lower | Moderate |
| Falls | 28% lower | Very low |
For mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia and falls, the curves bent at about 5,000–7,000 steps a day. Beyond that point, extra steps still helped, but each one added less. The authors wrote that 10,000 steps “can still be a viable target for those who are more active,” while 7,000 “might be a more realistic and achievable target for some.” They also noted limitations, including few studies for most outcomes, no age-specific analysis and possible residual confounding.
What this does and does not tell you. These are observational associations, not proof that steps alone cause the benefit. They are also research findings, not HHS policy. HHS could set a single number, a range, age-specific targets or something else entirely. We have explained the practical trade-offs in 7,000 vs 10,000 steps a day.
Why strength training is part of the update
Most adults do not meet the current muscle-strengthening guideline. Healthy People 2030 tracks this as objective PA-04. Its most recent figure is that 32.9% of adults did muscle-strengthening activity in their leisure time on 2 or more days a week (2024, age-adjusted, self-reported). The 2030 target is 36.6%.
The research supports doing some strength work even when the amount is modest:
- Momma et al., 2022 (British Journal of Sports Medicine) analysed 16 cohort studies. Muscle-strengthening activity was associated with a 10–17% lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, total cancer, diabetes and lung cancer. The largest risk reduction appeared at about 30–60 minutes a week. The authors said the effect of higher volumes was unclear. Combining strength and aerobic activity was associated with lower mortality than doing neither.
- The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) published an updated resistance-training position stand in March 2026. It recommends training all major muscle groups at least twice a week. It says bands, bodyweight exercises and home routines all produce meaningful results, and that the biggest gain comes from going from no resistance training to some.
The HHS notice does not say whether the supplement will add minutes, sets or other detail to the current “2 days a week” recommendation.
What has not been decided
- No step number. Figures such as 7,000, 8,000 or 10,000 come from research and popular culture, not from HHS.
- No change to the strength recommendation yet. It is still at least 2 days a week, covering all major muscle groups.
- No final publication date beyond “2027.”
- No process details beyond this comment period. The notice names no advisory committee and does not say whether a draft will be released for comment.
Other bodies are also updating their guidance. On 10 July 2026, the UK Chief Medical Officers updated their activity guidelines. The UK update “does not introduce new physical activity targets,” keeps 150 minutes a week, includes no step target and encourages “strength and balance exercises as part of everyday life.” The UK guidance does not predict what the US will decide, but it shows that national health bodies are paying more attention to strength.
How to submit a comment
- Find the docket. The notice says comments are accepted via regulations.gov on docket HHS-OASH-2026-0463. On 12 October 2026, the day before publication, the docket was not yet searchable. If you cannot find it, open the Federal Register document and use the comment link or docket reference shown there.
- Send evidence, not just opinions. HHS asks for reports, programs or campaigns on steps or muscle-strengthening activity and health outcomes, with “appropriate supporting documentation for scientific justification (e.g., verifiable data sets, links to case studies, published research papers).”
- Cite and link instead of attaching. HHS suggests “complete citations or abstracts and electronic links to full articles or reports, rather than attachments.”
- Know how comments are weighed. HHS says it decides on “the scientific justification for the recommendation,” not on the number of comments for or against a topic. A well-sourced comment matters more than a petition-style one.
- Submit before the deadline. Comments must arrive by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 12, 2026. Individuals and organizations may submit more than one comment.
Questions about the process go to ODPHP at PhysicalActivityGuidelines@hhs.gov, the contact listed in the notice.
What to do in the meantime
You do not need to wait for 2027. The current guidelines already give you a clear plan, and the new evidence fits within it.
- Keep the weekly minutes as your main target. 150–300 minutes of moderate activity a week is still the official recommendation. Brisk walking counts, and short bouts count too. Our guide to 10-minute walks after meals versus one 30-minute walk covers how to split it up.
- Use steps as a daily habit tracker. If you are under about 5,000 steps a day, adding a few thousand is where the research shows the steepest drop in risk. Device counts vary, so compare yourself with your own baseline. See our step-tracking accuracy comparison. If you walk indoors, our guide to walking 10,000 steps on a walking pad shows how long it takes.
- Do strength work twice a week. A short full-body routine is a sensible start. See how little strength training is enough, try a resistance band routine if you train at home, and use progressive overload once it starts to feel easy.
If you have a health condition, are pregnant or are returning to exercise after an illness or injury, check with a qualified clinician about what is appropriate for you.
FAQs
Is HHS changing the 150-minute exercise recommendation?
The notice does not say so. It describes adding step-count and muscle-strengthening guidance to the second edition. Until HHS publishes something new, the recommendation remains 150–300 minutes of moderate activity a week plus muscle-strengthening on at least 2 days.
Will the new guidance recommend 7,000 or 10,000 steps a day?
Nobody knows yet, and HHS has not proposed a number. Recent meta-analyses suggest most of the mortality benefit comes by roughly 7,000–8,000 steps, with age differences. HHS will have to weigh that evidence along with the comments it receives.
Who can comment?
Anyone, whether an individual or an organization, and the notice allows more than one comment. Comments backed by citations and links to published research or program data are the most useful to HHS.
When will the final guidance come out?
The notice gives no date beyond the “2027” in the supplement’s title.
Sources
- Federal Register: FR Doc. 2026-20833: the comment request, published October 13, 2026.
- Federal Register public inspection PDF: the full notice text, filed October 9, 2026.
- ODPHP: Top 10 Things to Know About the Second Edition: the current adult recommendations.
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (PDF): the full 2018 guidelines.
- Healthy People 2030, PA-04: national muscle-strengthening data.
- Kraus et al. (2019), Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: the 2018 committee’s step-count review.
- Paluch et al. (2022), The Lancet Public Health: daily steps and mortality in 15 cohorts.
- Ding et al. (2025), The Lancet Public Health: daily steps and multiple health outcomes.
- Momma et al. (2022), British Journal of Sports Medicine: muscle-strengthening activity and disease risk.
- ACSM: 2026 resistance training guidelines update: the position stand summary.
- GOV.UK: New UK CMO activity guidelines: the July 2026 UK update.
