Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

[Phys-L] Walking speed and energy



There was a recent article in the news (I saw it on Yahoo) reporting =
recent work at the University of Colorado regarding the relative calo=
rie-burning merits of different walking speeds. It makes a good stud=
y in carefully reading was is said and deciding what is important.
=20
The research showed that walking slowly actually burns MORE Cal/mile =
than walking at a normal pace. I found a website that backed up the =
claim: about 10 Cal/mile fewer Calories at 3 mph compared to 2 mph. =
The mis-implication in the article is that walking slowly will be mor=
e effective than walking at a normal pace for losing weight. But tha=
t isn't the whole story, and I'm sure many of you have already figure=
d out why the slow walk doesn't actually improve weight loss.
=20
A 1 mile walk @ 2mph takes 30 min. A 1 mile walk @ 3mph takes only 2=
0 min. Simply living for 10 min takes about 10 Cal. In other words,=
the 10 Cal you save by walking faster is then required as you sit ar=
ound waiting for the slower walker to catch up.
=20
The research does go on the show that (especially for obese people) t=
he slower walk is much better on the knees. So walking slow doesn't =
burn any extra Calories in the long run (sorry of the unintentional p=
un), but it does save the knees.
=20
=20
Tim F
=20
P.S. At 1440 Cal/day, you burn 1 Cal/min just sitting, which makes a=
handy rule of thumb.=20
=20
=20
_______________________________________________
Phys-L mailing list
Phys-L@electron.physics.buffalo.edu
https://www.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l