If you’re wondering about the number of calories burned while walking as part of your weight loss strategy, we have provided some information in this article to assist you. As you probably know, your body weight is generally determined by your calorie balance; that is, the number of calories you consume vs. the number you burn through activity and exercise. In order to lose weight, you need to be burn more than you are consuming and walking each day will provide a great way of increasing the number of calories you burn.

The Benefits of Walking

The popularity of walking for exercise has a lot to do with it being both free and convenient. With most healthcare experts agreeing that people should strive to get a minimum of 30 minutes of at least moderate physical activity on most days, walking provides a good way to achieve that. Some of the specific benefits of walking can include:

• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Can help to lower blood pressure
• Can help to minimize arthritis pain by controlling inflammation
• May help to prevent certain types of cancer
• Can improve sleep
• Helps to control body weight by increasing the number of calories burned

How Many Calories Does Walking Burn?

The number of calories burned depends more on the distance you walk than on the amount of time you walk. Another important factor is the body weight of the person as a heavier person exerts more effort (and thus burns more calories) than a light person who walks the same distance. A rule-of-thumb that is often used says that a 180 pound person will burn 100 calories per mile through walking. In contrast, a 130 pound person will only burn about 84 calories by walking one mile.