Last week I heard an ominous observation on a British TV show. The context escapes me, but the phrase, intended as a benign descriptor, stuck. In referring to the United States, the narrator referred to us as “currently the most powerful nation in the world.”

Currently?

We’re losing step, people. In fact, according to a recent study from the University of Tennessee Obesity Research Center, were losing a lot of steps. If steps were power — and they are — the U.S. would already be one of the least powerful nations on Earth. According to the study, the average American takes just 5,117 steps per day, well below the recommended average of 10,000 steps a day. Recommended not only because those 10,000 daily steps would get our cardiovascular systems in better shape, drop our weight, improve our mental outlook, diminish our chances for contracting scary diseases and boost our odds for outliving our parents, but we would be the world’s walking power. (Latest evidence supporting 10,000 steps a day: A study published early this year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that folks who took 10,000 or more steps a day were 72 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome, often a precursor to diabetes.)

So who is the reigning world step power?

Austria, where citizens take an average of 9,695 steps a day, followed by supposedly “neutral” Switzerland, where the anything-but-stuck-in-neutral Swiss are taking 9,650 steps a day, and Japan, where they take 7,168 steps every day.

Does taking more steps make a difference? Consider: 34 percent of U.S. adults are obese, says the report, while only 16 percent of Austrians (constantly tempted by beer and sausage), 8 percent of Swiss (cheese and chocolate) and 3 percent of Japanese (go, fish!) are obese.

Is taking more steps difficult? No. Some ways you can help our nation become the world’s leading step power:

• Avoid escalators, elevators and other forms of moving surfaces.
  Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk to wherever you’re headed.
• Take 20 minutes during your work day to take a revitalizing walk.
• Walk for 20 minutes before or after work.
• Walk the dog.
• Walk Like an Egyptian.
  Walk Like a Man (and if you’re not a man)

Just walk — one foot in front of the other, no Howcast training video necessary. And don’t leave the 10,000 steps to chance. For as little as $10 you can get a basic pedometer that accurately records steps (you’ll have to shell out more for one that accurately records distance, but simple steps are the important thing here).

Get walking, America! Let’s set the pace for the rest of the world!