Walking Strategies for Overall Health

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does it take to walk a mile?

  The time it takes to walk a mile depends on your pace. For most people, you can expect to walk a mile in about 15 to 20 minutes. With practice, you can improve your speed when walking a mile.

  Learn More: How to Know How Fast You Are Walking
• How many calories do you burn walking a mile?

  The amount of calories you burn doing any physical activity depends on several factors, such as age, sex, weight, and distance. For example, someone who weighs 165 pounds can burn about 85 calories from walking one mile at a 3 to 4 mile per hour pace. A 120-pound person burns approximately 64 calories walking the same distance at the same pace.

  Learn More: How to Calculate the Calories You Burn During Exercise
• Is walking good for weight management?

  Aerobic exercise like walking is good for weight loss and weight management because it burns calories and can help reduce body fat. No matter what type of exercise you're doing, combining it with a nutritious, balanced diet will provide the best results for weight management.

  Learn More: Walking Workout Schedule for Weight Loss
• How many miles or steps should you walk per day?

  If you’re going to start incorporating regular walks into your weekly routine, try to meet the recommended 150 minutes per week. This is about 30 minutes of walking per day. However, you’re likely to get more steps by also being active throughout the day. A higher step count is associated with lower mortality, so aim for 8,000 to 12,000 steps per day.

  Learn More: The Average Number of Steps Per Day