Americans are more sedentary than ever and that is a problem even among people who exercise regularly, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. The article features David Bassett, a professor in the UT Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies. Bassett notes that Americans on average take 5,117 steps a day. A good daily goal, by contrast, is 10,000 steps, which could result in modest weight loss, improved glucose tolerance in people at risk of developing diabetes and other benefits, Bassett says.