Prof. Jo Doust from UWA's Sport & Exercise Department has done a lot of work on how many calories you burn by simply walking from A to B. Here he answers some of the most frequently asked questions he gets:
Isn't it better to go to the gym for a hard work-out than to go walking?
Working-out in the gym is excellent and you can always get good advice about the best exercise. But ask yourself this simple question. Do you go to the gym? Regularly? Walking can be slotted into your daily routine - it's free, saves you petrol or bus fares, and helps the environment. Did you know that 50% of all journeys in the U.K. are less than 2 miles?
Will I burn more calories if I walk fast?
No. It is the distance that matters not the time. If you walk faster you will burn calories at a faster rate but you won't be walking as long.
Isn't walking too easy? Shouldn't I be exercising hard to get fit?
It depends how fit you want to get! If you want to get fit for sport then yes you do need to work hard. And sport or working out in the gym are popular ways of keeping fit. But the major health benefits of exercise can come with relatively mild exercise as long as you do it regular and do enough. The latest scientific evidence shows that health benefits will begin to arise if you accumulate at least 2,000 Calories worth of exercise a week. You must of course watch your diet and not assume because you have walked for 20 minutes that it's O.K. to eat an extra doughnut.
My legs are short. Won't I burn more calories because I take more steps?
Unfortunately not! You might take more steps but each one is shorter and needs less energy that the longer steps of a taller person. It all pretty much balances out and leg length makes only about 3% difference to the energy required to walk
What about cycling instead?
Cycling can be excellent exercise. But cycling is very efficient and the calorie burn is about 1/3rd that of walking. You have to cycle three times the distance to get the same effect.
Written by Professor Jo Doust, Head of the Sport & Exercise Department at the University of Wales Aberystwyth.
your comments
Trevor Sewry from Llangatwg, Crug Hywel
As I Commented earier, there is not much advice given to an OAP with a broken back, doubly incontinent and no legs below the knees and confined to a wheelchair.
Wed Mar 19 09:00:03 2008
Lucy McLaughlin from Manchester
I do tennis! It is a lot of fun and is very sociable! There are a lot of clubs in Great Britain of all standards and suitable for all ages!
Mon Apr 23 11:45:27 2007
Olivia Salt from Manchester
Swimming, its fun and socialble and gives you a sense of being feather weight in the water.
you burn off many calories and gain confidence in water
and you never know..you may end up good at it!
Tue Mar 20 09:33:19 2007
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Find out why walking is so good for you with exercise expert Professor Jo Doust from the University of Wales Aberystwyth. 
