When I envision our hunter-gatherer ancestors, I see the tribe running and moving around with agility and flexibility. While they definitely took time to rest, I would guess they weren’t sitting on their butts as much as many of us are today. From caveman to couchman, I wonder how much movement we’ve lost since the more primal days of the Paleolithic era.
While there aren’t nearly as many hunter-gatherer tribes as there were in the past, there are still some in modern times, such as the Hadza tribe. Today, the Hadza in northern Tanzania use bows and arrows and hunt for meat and forage for plants and honey. There are around 1,300 members, and they have their own unique language.
How many steps do hunter-gatherers walk per day?
In one study using accelerometer data, the researchers revealed that the hunter-gatherer Hadza tribe in Tanzania walks an average of 15,000 to 17,500 steps a day, which is more than the recommended evidence-backed 7,000 steps or the social media-hyped 10,000 steps of today. This gives us an idea about the movement of the primal historic tribes. 17,000 is a lot more than 7,000.
On days when the tribesmen were hunting, they covered even more ground than the 17,000 steps. The average daily step count has definitely declined over time. Rather than heading to the gym to power through an hour workout, the Hadza are spreading this movement throughout the day and winding down in the evening, ready for rest. The researchers noted that Hadza tribesmen spend a large amount of time engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and they maintain these activity levels throughout their lifespan.
Losing movement in modern society
The researchers revealed that the Hadza engage in over 14 times as much moderate-to-vigorous physical activity as individuals participating in large studies in the United States.
Movement is better for your heart
In the same research, the study authors noted that the Hadza tribe had no risk factors for heart disease and optimal levels of biomarkers for heart health. Clearly, this movement is good for their hearts, along with their natural diet. The study authors stated that these results “provide evidence that the hunting and gathering foraging strategy involves high levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,” and that’s good news for heart health. So, while you don’t have to go out and hunt and gather all of your own food to get some exercise, it’s definitely a good idea to get your muscles moving more and ramp up the intensity in the ways that work best for you.
