A new study suggests that 4,000 steps a day is the optimal number of steps to take. The point from which mortality in all causes is reduced and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease is associated with 3,967 steps. Health professionals say the study is a misinterpretation and that the more active we are, the better health we will have. "When we talk about something as important as health we must do more than the minimum, we are not worth the '5 scraping,'" says a personal trainer.