According to a walking calorie calculator I used-
Weight 172lbs Distance walked 1 mile
Pace Duration Calories
Slow (2.5mph) 24 minutes 98
Normal (3mph) 20 minutes 96
Fast (3.5mph) 17 minutes 100
Very Fast (4mph) 15 minutes 102
Even though you burn more calories per minute the quicker you walk, walking slower takes a longer amount of time to travel the same distance so it equals roughly the same amount of calories burned?
Edit: thanks for your responses! I was aware running burns more calories per mile than walking the same distance due placing greater demands on the body/being far less efficient, I was specifically interested in walking speeds alone over the same distances?
Personal anecdote; I’ve managed to lose a significant amount of weight over the past 6 months walking 5 miles daily at a very brisk pace (4-4.5 mph average), today due to fatigue I took it easy, walked a lot slower at 3-3.5mph, felt less fatiguing but obviously took longer amount of time, a good trade off if it means I can walk at a more leisurely pace some days and burn roughly the same amount of calories over the same distance. 🙂
In: Physics
Slightly unrelated to your question, but I commonly see the factually incorrect statement that walking a mile burns about the same number of calories as walking a mile.
When you are running, you are literally hurling the entire weight of your body off the ground one step at a time. Notice when you jog, you have both feet off the ground between steps? You are propelling your entire body weight off the ground with each step.
When you are walking, you are always connected to the ground and are leaning on one leg using “bone strength” to hold your whole body up with each step.
It’s a major difference. Jogging and running are biomechanically much less efficient than walking.
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