Walking is one of the most popular exercises all over the world. It is not only an excellent way to keep yourself fit but also helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Walking has numerous benefits like improving your cardiovascular system, strengthening your muscles, reducing stress levels, and boosting your mental health. However, many people are not aware of the number of calories they burn when they walk. In this article, we will take a closer look at how many calories you burn when you walk.
Factors That Affect The Number of Calories Burned While Walking
The number of calories that you burn when you walk mainly depends on your walking speed and your body weight. Factors that affect the number of calories burned include:.
- Body weight: A person’s weight has a significant impact on how many calories they burn.
- Walking speed: The faster you walk, the more calories you will burn.
- Walking distance: Walking longer distances will burn more calories.
- Terrain: Walking uphill or on uneven terrain requires more energy and, therefore, burns more calories.
How Many Calories Do You Burn When You Walk?
The number of calories you burn when you walk depends on the factors mentioned above. Generally, the average person burns around 100 calories per mile walked. Here is a breakdown of how many calories are burned when walking, based on body weight:.
- A person who weighs 130 pounds burns approximately 90 calories per mile
- A person who weighs 155 pounds burns approximately 105 calories per mile
- A person who weighs 180 pounds burns approximately 120 calories per mile
- A person who weighs 205 pounds burns approximately 135 calories per mile
It is important to note that these are just estimated values. The actual number of calories an individual burns will depend on their walking speed and the terrain they are walking on.
For example, walking uphill burns more calories than walking on flat ground.
Calculating the Number of Calories You Burn When You Walk
If you want to calculate the exact number of calories you burn when you walk, you need to know your body weight and walking speed.
You can use an online calculator that takes into account both of these factors to determine the number of calories you burn per mile. Calculators are available for free online. You can also use a pedometer or a fitness tracker that calculates the number of calories burned based on your steps and weight.
How Can You Increase the Number of Calories You Burn When You Walk?
If you want to burn more calories when you walk, you can try the following tips:.
- Walk uphill: Walking uphill burns more calories than walking on flat ground.
- Interval training: Incorporate short bursts of faster walking into your routine to increase the number of calories burned.
- Carry weights: Carrying weights while you walk can help burn extra calories.
- Walk more frequently: Walking more frequently, even for shorter distances, can help increase the number of calories burned throughout the day.
The Bottom Line
Walking is an excellent exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels. Along with other health benefits, walking can help you burn calories and maintain a healthy weight.
The number of calories burned when walking depends on factors like your body weight and speed. You can use online calculators or fitness trackers to estimate the number of calories you burn when you walk. To increase the number of calories you burn, you can try walking uphill, carrying weights, or increasing your walking frequency.