The more you stop, the more you lose.
Researchers recently discovered that taking breaks during a walk burns more calories than going for an uninterrupted clip from beginning to end.
In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Bresearchers measured the oxygen and energy demands of participants walking on a treadmill or climbing stairs.
Ten healthy volunteers were monitored as they exercised at three different speeds at intervals of 10 seconds to 4 minutes.
The researchers recorded the level of oxygen consumed by each participant and their metabolic demand during each interval. Tests have shown that climbing or walking for 10 to 30 seconds requires 60% more oxygen than traveling the same distance without stopping.
Francesco Luciano, a researcher at the University of Milan and lead author of the study, was enthusiastic about the vehicle reference, explaining: It’s similar to a car that consumes more fuel in the first few kilometers than afterwards. ”
The researchers noted that the body needs more energy to warm up when it starts walking, and less when it’s already moving.
Luciano continued, “If you start walking, you may incur fixed costs at the start of the match. Similarly, if you drive a car, you need fuel to start the engine and get the car out of the garage. We found that when you start walking from rest, a significant amount of oxygen is consumed before you start walking. This cost occurs regardless of whether you walk for 10 seconds or 30 seconds, so it is shorter than a long bout. The match carries proportionately more weight.”
The research team determined that most estimates of the energy and oxygen demands of walking analyze people exercising in a steady metabolic state and compare that to a car driving on cruise control. I started.
“Researchers typically measure energy demand during walks that last many minutes. But many people can’t even walk that long. Think about the elderly or people with walking disabilities. ”
Their study supports other studies that have found that short periods of physical activity can significantly improve overall health and well-being.
As reported by the Post, “disgustingly small amounts” of just four minutes of exercise per day can significantly reduce an individual’s cancer risk, and even two minutes of exercise can reduce the risk of death by 18%. It is said that it is possible.
The average American spends about nine hours of their waking hours sitting, a trend that is associated with an increased risk of dementia, obesity, heart disease, and even death, but just 22 minutes of Moderate to vigorous physical activity can be sedentary. Risk of negative health effects from sitting too much.
The health benefits of daily walks are well established. From aiding digestion to uplifting your mood, any step you take is definitely a step in the right direction.
Walking is a low-impact alternative to running or other high-intensity training. It’s effective, accessible, and may help you live a longer, richer life. A recent study found that walking 5,000 steps three times a week for two years could add three years to your life and reduce your healthcare costs by up to 13%.
The researchers hope their findings will help develop rehabilitation and physical activity programs for people with limited mobility due to stroke injury or obesity, leading to more comprehensive and effective practices.
“If we want to design programs to promote physical activity and exercise in these people, we need to estimate their energy needs and rethink how to adapt. By understanding the energy required for short walks, , potentially promoting physical activity in a more comprehensive way.”
