 There's a weird reason you think you need 10,000 steps a day. The advice was never based on actual science and most people don't even get close. It was created as a marketing tool by a, get this, clock maker who was just trying to sell pedometers in Japan. But science today suggests we don't really need to walk 5 miles a day. Everyone's health is different and setting a numerical standard isn't realistic and can be discouraging for some. Getting your steps in is important, but diet, hydration and other forms of exercise can have some big benefits to your overall health.