Here’s the crucial question for anyone wanting to get in shape: Is running or walking better for losing weight??
Some things are already known and easy to determine: for example, in 15 minutes of running you burn more calories than during a walk of the same duration.
But this can change if we look at it from another perspective, namely: the kilometers covered.
Here you’ll find some reflections, since we ourselves have asked the question: running or walking?
Is running or walking better for losing weight?
Running is an activity that burns more calories per minute than simply walking, due to its intensity and heart rate. So it would seem that running burns more calories than walking.
The point, however, is that the question isn’t so simple, because if you cover, for example, one kilometer on foot by walking, logically it takes more time than running the same distance.
In other words, running a kilometer burns more calories per minute but you spend fewer minutes moving. If you walk, you tend to burn fewer calories per minute but increase the total minutes of movement!
So, let’s return to the original question: running or walking?
There are actually many factors that influence how many calories we burn: our age, weight, fitness level, the surface we walk or run on, and the pace we maintain.
What’s important, though, is speed, especially when we start considering distance.
The Speed Factor
Running or walking: in both cases, if the speed is 8 km/h, the calories burned will be the same.
Basically, that’s a walk that’s too fast for someone untrained and, at the same time, a slow jog.
The issue gets a bit more complex because once you reach a certain speed, the increase in calories burned per minute isn’t as significant if you go even faster.
The noticeable difference is seen when comparing a slow walk to a fast run. But the truth is, between jogging and fast running there isn’t much difference when it comes to burning calories.
This is because our body senses it’s near its limit, partly due to heart rate, as we increase running speed.
Small speed increases require considerable effort, and despite the many benefits of running, the results aren’t proportional to the effort made.
In conclusion: to lose weight, prefer brisk walking over long distances or a light jog, complementing your running and walking with other exercises as well as a balanced diet.