When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
But how effective is it?
And is walking a guaranteed method of losing weight?
A more intense workout will generally burn more calories than walking.
Can you lose weight by walking?
There are a number of studies that link walking to weight loss.
Including these studies into 10,000 steps as a target from2006,2017, and2018.
A more intense workout will generally burn more calories than walking.
This2019 studyestablished that a pattern of daily steps is associated with weight loss.
So why does walking help with weight loss and how can you use that to your advantage?
If you eat more calories than you burn daily, youll gain weight over time.
Conversely, if you burn more calories than youre eating, youll lose weight.
Burning calories comes down to two basic factors, your basal metabolic rate, and calories burned during activity.
Your body isalwaysburning calories, but you could burn even more calories by adding exercise into your week.
A more intense workout will generally burn more calories than walking.
Thats where walking comes in.
Walking can help tip the balance so that youre burning more calories than youre consuming, aiding weight loss.
If I eat exactly that number of calories, my weight wont change.
If I eat more, my weight will increase.
Suppose my BMR is 2,250, and I burn an extra 550 calories a day by walking.
If thats still not clear, think about the opposite effect.
My body is now in a 200-calorie surplus, and will store the excess as fat.
This means Ill gain weight over time.
Who can lose weight by walking?
Walking is an especially useful tool for weight loss for many people.
Walking is generally low impact, and much less likely to cause injury than running.
Walking is also very useful because its easier to fit into daily life.
Is there a better way to lose weight than walking?
The more intense the activity is that youre doing, the more calories youll burn in the process.
A great example isrucking; a popular new fitness trend that involves walking with a weighted backpack.
Distance or time?
The psychology behind it is pretty simple.
In contrast, if you only walked for 60 minutes each time, youre more limited in your progress.
In short, walking is only a good exercise for weight loss when paired with other lifestyle changes.
Walking can help tip that balance, but it cant take you all the way.
