Walking or Running: Which Exercise Should You Do?

Should you walk or run as a part of your exercise regime? As long as you move your body, any exercise you choose to do is probably going to be good for you. However, there are some real differences between walking and running and some pros and cons for each. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you’re trying to decide whether to include walking or running in your exercise plan for the new year.

 

Do you want to lose weight?

If your primary goal is to lose weight, you’ll probably benefit more from running than walking.

• Running burns far more calories than running. You’ll burn around 800 calories per hour while running, while an hour of walking will burn off 300 calories.
• A recent study showed that you’ll probably eat less after running than you would after walking, due to higher peptide YY levels in your blood when you run, which suppresses appetite.
• You’ll get faster results with running than walking. Fast weight loss results will boost your motivation, which will help you stick to your weight loss goals and have more chance at success.

 

Do you want to avoid injuries?

If you’re concerned about injuries and wear on your body, walking might be a better option for you. Have a bum knee or a bad ankle? Stick to walking for now.

• Running can lead to injuries, such as shin splints, runner’s knees, muscle strains, and more.
• Running is a high-impact exercise, which puts more stress on your joints and other parts of your body.
• To increase your intensity while walking, try wearing ankle weights or carrying light dumbbells.
• If you still want to run, you can reduce your risk for injuries by running on grass or earth and wearing good quality running shoes.

 

Do you want to have a healthy heart?

Both walking and running will help your heart be more healthy, but walking gives your hearth more benefits.

• Runners who ran at least an hour a day reduced their risk of heart disease by around 4.5%, while walkers who used the same amount of energy reduced their heart disease risk by more than 9%.
• Both running and walking will give you other health benefits, as well. When you run or walk on a regular basis, you’ll reduce your risk for hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and more. A recent study showed that runners and walkers had lower risks of developing age-related cataracts, for example.

Whether you decide to run or walk as a part of your exercise regimen, you’ll see health benefits. Running, walking, and any other cardiovascular activity will help whittle down your waistline, reduce your appetite, and help you reach a healthier lifestyle.

 

SOURCES:
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/is-it-better-to-walk-or-run/?_r=0
https://greatist.com/fitness/walking-good-workout-running