Sedentary?

"Americans now sit more than they sleep, spending an average of 10 hours a day in a car, at work and in front of a television.  Taking 5,000 steps or fewer daily is considered sedentary." federal government statistics

5,000 steps is sedentary?!  That is approximately 2 1/2 miles, and it is considered sedentary?  Yes, according to The Walking insert in the AARP Bulletin, January-February 2010.  To be considered active, one needs to walk 10,000 steps a day, which is approximately 5 miles.  I find that I cannot get in that many steps in a day without a deliberate 2-3 mile walk.  If I get 4,000 to 6,000 steps in a walk, then I can get the remaining 4,000 to 6,000 steps needed in my daily activites.  It is important to wear a pedometer, because it is very difficult to know how many steps one gets in a day without this device to keep track.  Walking is getting a lot of coverage in the news now, and with good reason -- it may be the single best and easiest exercise we can do to maintain and improve our health.