Austin Local Bariatric Surgeons

Running or Walking - Which Burns More Calories

December 11th, 2008

A common misconception is that you burn way more calories when you go for a run compared to going for a walk - but this isn’t actually true.

It is true that you will burn calories at a faster rate if you run, but whether you cover a 3 mile distance in an hour or a half hour, when you get to the finish line your body did the same amount of work energy-wise.

The scientific way to look at Work is the formula: Work = Force X Distance.  It takes energy to move your body over distance.  If your body burns 10 calories to move a certain distance, going 5 times farther will burn 5 times the calories regardless of your speed.

The biggest factor in how many calories you burn is your weight.  The heavier you are, the more energy it takes to move your body.

The Technical formula to figure this out is: Kilograms X Kilometers X 1.036

Here is the Imperial version:  0.76 Calories X Lbs X Miles

Here is the Combination version:  0.47 Calories X Lbs X Kilometers

For example, here is the Imperial formula for a 150 lb person who walks/runs 3.1 miles:
Total Calories = 0.76 X 150 X 3 = 353 calories burned

Here is the combination formula for a 150 lb person who walks/runs 5 kilometers:
Total Calories = 0.47 X 150 X 5 = 353 calories burned

Don’t get me wrong, there are benefits of moving your body at a faster rate. You won’t get a cardiovascular workout by moving slowly, and you won’t get any “after-burn” effect from a casual stroll, but if your concern is getting in some activity that will burn extra calories, walking works!

So if you are watching tv at home and using a treadmill, you can easily walk 5 K or 3 Miles in an hour without dripping in sweat and burn the same calories as a run.

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Running or Walking - Which Burns More Calories