Can you lose weight by walking?

Could regular walking help boost weight loss success?

Can you lose weight by walking? Here’s the thing: all physical activity, and that includes walking, will burn fat and that can lead to weight loss. Speed up those steps and you’ll torch more calories, too.

What’s more, taking a walk, especially outdoors surrounded by nature, is just as good for your mental health as your physical.

It can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, reduce depressive symptoms and a natural mood booster. This is because walking soothes the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the body responsible for rest and relaxation.

UK guidelines state that losing 1-2 pounds a week is safe and sustainable weight loss, and walking is a great low impact form of exercise to help achieve this.

How many calories you burn on a walk will depend on things like how tall you are, your weight, body fat percentage and your pace.

But as a general rule, walking at a fast pace, and adding an incline or decline (going up or downhill) will burn more calories and aid weight loss.

How often should you walk for weight loss?

Studies have shown that just 30 minutes walking is enough to boost weight loss.

The key to losing weight from walking is to walk fast enough or with enough intensity to burn fat for energy.

And the longer walks you do, the more you burn stored fat instead of the sugars your body uses for energy. So to see faster results, take bigger walks, increase your pace and add a hill or two - anything to get your heart rate up.