PICTURE: PEXELS/ WALKING
One of the easiest and most efficient methods to keep active and burn calories is to go for a walk. Every step matters, whether you’re walking to work, through the park, or taking a intense walk around the block.
But have you ever wondered how many calories you actually lose by doing so? Your body weight, distance travelled, and pace all affect the answer. The below experts explain how walking may improve your mood, burn calories, and keep you in shape.
A calorie can be thought of as a little energy packet. We’re only talking about the energy our bodies absorb or expand when we discuss calories in relation to our diet and physical activity. “We use a unit called a kilocalorie, which is often just called a ‘calorie,’ to measure this energy,” states Calum Fraser, physiotherapist and CEO of Advantage Healthcare & Physiotherapy.
The health-focused publication Healthline highlights tha walking is a simple and affordable way to get daily exercise, and walking every day can help you control your weight, lower your risk of depression, and improve your brain, bones, and general quality of life.
“Walking burns somewhere between 90-200 calories every 30 minutes. However, the actual number of calories burned depends on your weight; a heavier person has to do more work with every step and burns more calories per hour. Calorie burn also depends on your walking speed, and on where and how you walk, Today explains.
BarBend claims, “Though it’s not safe for everyone to count calories — for example, those who are in recovery from disordered eating habits — some people may find it helpful.”A calorie calculator is a useful tool that may help you figure out how many calories you burn each day based on your level of physical activity and your basal metabolic rate, or BMR (the amount of energy you consume each day at rest).
Also see: Ditch the energy drinks for these study-friendly alternatives
