Walking: Is it enough for weight loss? (2024)

Can I lose weight if my only exercise is walking?

Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

You might be able to lose weight that way, depending on how long and how intensely you walk and what your diet's like.

A combination of physical activity and cutting calories seems to help with weight loss more than does exercise alone.

Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.

However, balance is important. Overdoing it can increase your risk of soreness, injury and burnout. If you're new to regular exercise, you may need to start out with short walks or walking at a light intensity, and gradually build up to longer walks or more moderate or vigorous intensity.

Once you've lost weight, exercise is even more important. It's what helps keep the weight off. In fact, studies show that people who maintain their weight loss over the long term get regular physical activity.

So keep walking, but make sure you also eat a healthy diet.

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Nov. 30, 2022

  1. Mabire L, et al. The influence of age, sex and body mass index on the effectiveness of brisk walking for obesity management in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2017; doi:10.1123/jpah.2016-0064.
  2. Hensrud DD, et al. The Mayo Clinic Diet. 2nd ed. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
  3. Walking: A step in the right direction. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/walking-step-right-direction. Accessed Oct. 8, 2020.
  4. Hensrud DD, et al., eds. The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet. 2nd ed. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2018.
  5. 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines. Accessed Oct. 8, 2020.
  6. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/current-guidelines. Accessed Oct. 8, 2020.
  7. Pizzorono JE, et al., eds. Obesity. In: Textbook of Natural Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 8, 2020.

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Walking: Is it enough for weight loss? (2024)

FAQs

Walking: Is it enough for weight loss? ›

Physical activity, such as walking, is important for weight control because it helps you burn calories. If you add 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine, you could burn about 150 more calories a day. Of course, the more you walk and the quicker your pace, the more calories you'll burn.

How much walking a day is enough to lose weight? ›

"Generally, 1 mile (or roughly 2,000 steps) walked equates to [burning] 80 to 100 calories." There are 3,500 calories in 1 pound. "This means to lose 1 pound, you'll need to walk roughly 35 miles or 70,000 steps. Over the course of a week, this means targeting 10,000 steps a day," says Davis.

Can I lose weight by walking only? ›

Can a person just walk everyday to lose weight? Yes, walking can aid weight loss. However, to increase the amount of fat they burn while walking, a person might consider walking uphill, wearing a weighted vest, or increasing their daily steps.

Can I lose 20 pounds in a month by walking? ›

The key to losing 20 pounds by walking is to set appropriate goals and understand the fundamentals of weight loss. How Long Will it Take Me to Lose 20 Pounds? At a weight loss rate of ½ -1 pound per week, it will likely take you at least 20 weeks to lose 20 pounds.

Can I lose belly fat just by walking? ›

One of the most effective ways to reduce belly fat is to regularly take part in aerobic exercise, such as walking ( 19 , 20 ). In one small study, women with obesity who walked for 50–70 minutes three times per week for 12 weeks, on average, reduced their waist circumference and their body fat.

How can I lose 10 pounds in a week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

Can you lose 10 pounds in a month? ›

It's possible to lose 10 pounds in 1 month due to lifestyle and dietary changes. However, losing this much weight in 1 month may not be a safe target for everyone. Increasing exercise levels and modifying your dietary choices are important ways of managing your weight safely and effectively.

Can I stay fit just by walking? ›

Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. For example, regular brisk walking can help you: Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat. Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Why isn't walking helping me lose weight? ›

Fat burning hormones need high intensity, and walking is low intensity exercise. Though a large percentage of calories burned is of fat, the total amount of fat burned is negligible. Added to this is that the moment you stop walking, the metabolism is back to base line and you stop burning calories.

How long does it take to see results from walking? ›

After 3-4 days of walking: you will notice the “better fit” or more room in your clothes! After 7 days of walking: real changes are happening! You have used body fat as energy (fat burning!) Muscles feel more toned!

Where is the first place you lose weight on your body? ›

Mostly, losing weight is an internal process. You will first lose hard fat that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and then you will start to lose soft fat like waistline and thigh fat. The fat loss from around the organs makes you leaner and stronger.

Has anyone lost weight walking 10,000 steps a day? ›

According to a 2018 study published in the journal Obesity, walking 10,000 steps a day is associated with weight loss and weight management. Plus, it's a low-impact exercise, making it accessible for all fitness levels.

Will I lose weight if I walk everyday for 1 hour? ›

Walking 1 hour each day can help you burn calories and, in turn, lose weight. If you'd like to lose a substantial amount of weight (more than 5% of your body weight), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting at least 300 minutes of moderately intense physical activity weekly.

What is the flat tummy walk? ›

abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter stomach. This type of exercise typically involves engaging the core muscles and walking at a brisk pace. It can be done indoors or outdoors and doesn't require any equipment. It is also called a “power walk” or “brisk walk”.

Where do you lose weight first when walking? ›

The first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but hold onto weight in their thighs and hips, Dr. Block explains.

Does walking tone your butt? ›

Walking is absolutely a great form of exercise, and one that doesn't always get a ton of love because it's so chill compared to other forms of exercise, Saltos says. But, rather than building butt muscles, walking can actually make your butt a bit smaller.

How many miles are in 10,000 steps? ›

Based on an average step length of 2 1/2 feet, 10,000 steps is roughly equal to 5 miles. However, due to factors such as your height and walking speed, this number can vary. Online calculators can help determine how many miles you'll cover in 10,000 steps.

How to lose 2 pounds a week by walking? ›

To lose 2 pounds a week walking, you're going to have to also reduce the calories in your diet — possibly by a lot. You could burn 500 calories walking and cut 500 calories from your diet, but you're still going to be doing a lot of walking — one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and 40 minutes.

What is a good distance to walk everyday? ›

The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles. It's a good idea to find out how many steps a day you walk now, as your own baseline. Then you can work up toward the goal of 10,000 steps by aiming to add 1,000 extra steps a day every two weeks.

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