Is it better to run or exercise to lose weight?

Author: Dr. Eliseo Orn III  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

According to Natalie Rizzo, a New York City-based registered dietitian who works with "everyday athletes," running is a great way to lose weight since it burns a lot of calories quickly. "You're burning more calories per minute" with running than you are with strength training or cycling, Rizzo said.

Should I run or workout to lose weight?

While running burns a higher amount of calories, strength training is more effective at building muscle. According to research, you may also burn more calories in the hours following a strength training session.

Can I lose weight by running only?

Yes, it is possible to lose weight by running only once a day, as long as you are consistent with your exercise routine and maintain a calorie deficit through healthy eating habits. Running is an effective way to burn calories and can contribute to weight loss when combined with a healthy diet.

Can I lose weight by running 30 minutes?

Yes, a 30-minute run can contribute to weight loss, especially when combined with a balanced diet and consistent exercise routine. Running helps burn calories and improve cardiovascular health, which are essential factors for weight loss.

Is running better than exercise for belly fat?

One study found that regular aerobic exercises, such as walking, reduced belly fat and helped people manage obesity. Walking and running help burn calories in the body, but they also help reduce belly fat, depending on the intensity of the exercise. However, running may help reduce belly fat more effectively.

Top 10 Tips To Lose Weight By Running!

Should I run faster or longer to lose weight?

Faster runners burn more fat and carbs, use more muscle fibers, and burn calories more efficiently. On the flip side, fast running requires more recovery time and is not suitable for every day. Benefits for distance runners include improved endurance and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

What exercise burns the most belly fat?

Activities like running, cycling, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) burn more calories and fat throughout the body, including the upper belly, lower belly, and obliques. So, while ab exercises can help define your core, it's a holistic approach that will help you lose the fat covering those muscles.

Can I lose 30 pounds in 3 months running?

Weight loss primarily depends on your diet. Treadmill will help you maintain your heart health. Targeting 30 pounds in 3 months is a unrealistic goal. Keep a target of 1% weight loss per week.

How to slim down quickly?

How to naturally lose weight fast
  1. Intermittent fasting.
  2. Tracking diet and exercise.
  3. Mindful eating.
  4. Protein with meals.
  5. Avoid sugar.
  6. Fiber.
  7. Gut bacteria balance.
  8. Sleep.

Why am I gaining weight when I run?

If you've noticed the scale weight shoot up within the first few weeks of running, it may be from water retention rather than fat gain. Starting a new exercise routine, like running, can cause temporary water retention in your muscles.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds?

To lose weight effectively and safely, aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds (lbs) per week may be best. This means that losing 20 lbs may take 10 to 20 weeks. To lose weight, people will likely need to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Some popular diets are effective initially but challenging to maintain.

What is the best speed to run for weight loss?

Pick up the pace to a 6 mph run, and you'll burn between 300 and 444 calories in 30 minutes. Runners who can maintain a 10 mph pace burn between 495 and 733 for that same half-hour run. Changing your running speed can make a difference in the amount of calories burned and weight lost per week.

Which exercise is best for weight loss?

7 Best Weight-loss Exercises
  1. Walking. Walking is an easy exercise suitable for beginners, requiring no special equipment. ...
  2. Jogging or running. Jogging and running differ primarily in speed. ...
  3. Cycling. Cycling is a low-impact exercise that places minimal stress on the knees. ...
  4. Weight Training. ...
  5. Swimming. ...
  6. Yoga. ...
  7. Pilates.

Will running slim my legs?

Running to slim thighs and reshape legs

Endurance running is especially effective in those who have big thigh muscles, as it may decrease the size of the muscles and reduce fat around the muscle to make the thighs smaller. It will completely transform the size and make-up of your thighs and your calves.

What is the best distance to run for weight loss?

We can't provide a specific answer about how much weight you can expect to lose, but we can share what studies have found. One study found that running just 5k (a little more than 3 miles) per week resulted in an average weight loss of over 12 pounds in a year when paired with improvements in diet.

Is losing 20 pounds in 3 months realistic?

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Losing 20 pounds in three months is an ideal goal. That means losing a little more than 1.5 pounds per week. According to the CDC, losing 1 to 2 pounds a week gives you the best weight-loss results in the long-term.

How long does it realistically take to lose 30 pounds?

The NHS recommends a weight loss target of 1 to 2 lbs per week. This is a realistic and safe amount of weight loss, suitable for the majority of people living with obesity. Based on this rate of weight loss, it'll take between 15 and 30 weeks to achieve 30 lbs of weight loss.

Does fat get jiggly before you lose it?

The Science of Fat Loss

Think of it like a balloon losing air—it deflates, but doesn't disappear immediately. Over time, your body adjusts, but the jiggly feeling can be a temporary step along the way.

What is the no 1 way to lose belly fat?

Doing aerobic exercise while eating a healthy diet is the best way to lose belly fat and overall body fat. This will help to create a calorie deficit (where you use more calories than you consume), which promotes fat loss over time.

What is a good distance to run everyday?

Try to start with one to three miles per day if you are new to running. Stay closer to the one-mile end if you don't currently do much exercise. If you hike, bike, or do something similar, you may want to see how you do running three miles a day. As you gain more miles over time, your heart and lungs become stronger.

What type of run is best for weight loss?

The 3 Most Effective Running Workouts For Losing Weight
  1. Aerobic intervals. In this type of interval training, the ratio between work and recovery is 1 to 2. ...
  2. Intervals at your 5k race pace. In these intervals, the work and recovery periods are equal. ...
  3. Continuous run at your 10k race pace.

Does walking burn more fat than running?

For example, if you have 30 minutes to exercise, you will burn 187 calories walking (7km per hour) versus 365 calories running (9km per hour). Walking may burn more fat for fuel, but running burns more total calories, which will contribute to greater weight loss in total.

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