Pedometers represent simple and affordable physical activity assessment devices that are useful for both measurement and motivation. Pedometers represent hardware, but without the associated software (e.g., guidelines) their utility is limited. Researchers and practitioners require practical guidelines for step/day indices associated with important health-related outcomes (e.g., obesity, hypertension, etc.) and/or health-related levels of physical activity (i.e., translations of public health recommendations). The following preliminary guidelines are used to evaluate pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults: 1) sedentary lifestyle is <5000 steps/day, 2) low active is 5,000-7,499 steps/day; 3) somewhat active is 7,500-9,999; 4) active is ³10,000; and 5) highly active is >12,500steps/day. Although accumulating evidence supports that ³10,000 steps/day is a reasonable target associated with a number of health benefits for healthy older adults, achieving this level of steps/day is no guarantee of these important remunerations. At least 3,000-4,000 of these daily steps (i.e., equivalent to 30 minutes of brisk walking) must be of at least moderate intensity, accumulated in minimal bouts of 10 minutes at a time. Sedentary and low active individuals would likely benefit from a more graduated and individualized approach to increasing daily steps rather than attempting to universally achieve ³10,000 steps/day.Keyword(s): community-based programs, health promotion, physical activity