Is it better to walk 30 minutes or 60 minutes?

Author: Dr. Joyce Fahey  |  Last update: Sunday, November 16, 2025

You might start with five minutes a day the first week, and then increase your time by five minutes each week until you reach at least 30 minutes. For even more health benefits, aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.

Is it better to walk for 30 minutes or an hour?

Running for 30 minutes burns more calories, improves cardiovascular fitness, and builds endurance efficiently. Walking for an hour is gentler on joints, better for beginners, and aids recovery while still burning calories.

Is it better to run for 30 minutes or walk for 60 minutes?

Conclusion: If your goal is to improve cardiovascular fitness and burn calories quickly, running for 30 minutes may be more effective. However, if you're looking for a sustainable, low-impact exercise that can easily fit into your daily life, walking for 60 minutes is a great choice.

Can you lose weight by walking 30 minutes a day?

Walking 30 minutes a day can contribute to weight loss, but the amount lost depends on factors like diet, metabolism, and intensity. On average, walking burns around 150--200 calories per session. Over 28 days, this could lead to a weight loss of 2--4 pounds if no dietary changes are made.

Can you lose belly fat by walking?

Can a person lose belly fat by walking? Regular aerobic exercise such as walking may be an effective way to lose belly fat. A 2014 study supports this and concluded that walking could help to burn body fat, including fat around the waist and within the abdominal cavity.

What Happens If You Walk (30 MIN PER DAY)

How long should I walk to lose 30 lbs?

In terms of how the type of walking you need to do to lose weight, a brisk pace is recommended. Walking for 30-90 minutes several days each week will help you to lose weight. Walking at a brisk walking pace for 30 minutes typically results in a distance walked of 1.5-2 miles or 3,000-4,500 steps.

Is it better to walk in the morning or evening?

An evening walk can help you burn more calories overall, as your body uses more energy when you exercise after eating meals. It can also help you prevent overeating at night and reduce your blood sugar spikes after dinner.

What is a flat tummy walk?

A “flat tummy walk” is a type of exercise that is intended to help tone and strengthen the. abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter stomach. This type of exercise typically involves engaging the core muscles and walking at a brisk pace. It can be done indoors or outdoors and doesn't require any equipment.

Does walking tone your butt?

Yes—when it comes to building your glutes while walking, it's all about the incline. If you're on a treadmill, “anything above a five percent grade is going to target the glutes much more than a lower incline [or flat surface],” says Matty.

Should you walk faster or longer?

“Both matter,” says Dr. Redler. While walking faster gives your heart a more intense workout, walking longer builds up endurance by making it work longer.

Is it better to run 3 miles or walk 5 miles?

If you're trying to lose weight, moderately paced running can burn calories twice as fast as walking. If you're just trying to promote a base level of health and fitness, then walking will do the job just as well. Running delivers more health benefits more efficiently than walking.

How many miles is 10,000 steps?

Based on an average step length of 2 1/2 feet, 10,000 steps is roughly equal to 5 miles. However, due to factors such as your height and walking speed, this number can vary. Online calculators can help determine how many miles you'll cover in 10,000 steps.

Is 1 hour walking a day enough?

“Walking 30 minutes a day is good. Walking more than 30 minutes a day is better,” he says. The more you walk, the more benefits you'll see over time. “Low-intensity exercise like walking will see more benefits with more activity,” he explains.

What happens to your body after a 30-minute walk?

Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

Does walking tone your legs?

A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped. Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.

Does walking get rid of belly pooch?

Exercise can help reduce your waist circumference. Even if you don't lose weight, you lose visceral belly fat and gain muscle mass. Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days, such as brisk walking or bicycling at a casual pace. Also create opportunities to add motion to routine tasks.

Where do you lose weight first when walking?

Generally speaking, the first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but may hold onto weight in the thighs and hips more so than men, Dr. Block says.

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.

Is walking on an empty stomach good?

Along with Vitamin D, morning walks on an empty stomach can support overall wellness, improve metabolism, enhance mood, and promote better sleep quality. Vitamin D can be obtained through dietary sources such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), egg yolks, fortified dairy products, and supplements if required.

Is it better to walk outside or on a treadmill?

The choice between walking outdoors and on a treadmill comes down to personal preference, goals, and lifestyle. While both methods have their own set of benefits, outdoor walking often provides a richer, more varied experience that can lead to greater calorie burn, enhanced motivation, and improved overall well-being.

What is the best time to go for a walk to lose weight?

For people who do not experience abdominal pain, fatigue, or other discomfort when walking just after a meal, walking at a brisk speed for 30 minutes as soon as possible just after lunch and dinner leads to more weight loss than does walking for 30 minutes beginning one hour after a meal has been consumed.

How much do I have to walk a day to lose 10 pounds in a month?

If you currently walk 15 minutes daily but aren't seeing results, walk for 30 to 60 minutes. If you want to lose 10 pounds faster but don't have an hour to devote to walking every day, walk for 30 minutes at a very brisk pace and add intensity like hills or weights.

How soon will I see results from walking?

But in general, if you pair walking with maintaining a calorie deficit, Smith says you can expect to see results within four to six weeks.

Why am I not losing weight walking 10000 steps a day?

Regular walking provides several health benefits, but certain factors may inhibit weight loss. These include a slow pace, insufficient duration, health conditions, high stress, lack of sleep, medication side effects, and high-calorie diets.

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