Is 10,000 Steps a Day Enough for Weight Loss?
Nearly every smartwatch is pre-programmed for a 10,000-step goal, so it might seem like that’s what we need to aim for every day. But if you’re walking for weight loss, you might wonder, How many calories does 10,000 steps burn?
And how many miles is 10,000 steps equivalent to? And is this really enough exercise to lose weight? Here’s what you need to know.
How Many Calories Does 10,000 Steps Burn?
A person weighing 150 pounds will burn around 358 calories walking at a moderate pace on flat ground for 90 minutes (the time it’d take to walk 4.5 miles, or the approximate distance of 10,000 steps).*
Unfortunately, providing anything other than a very rough average is difficult because the exact amount of calories a person burns walking 10,000 will vary wildly. “Calorie burn is highly individualized,” says Thieme.
The number of calories you might burn in 10,000 steps (and energy expenditure in general) depends on four key factors:
1. Body composition
For example, a mostly-sedentary overweight person will likely burn more calories walking than a similarly sedentary “healthy weight” individual of equal height, due to the extra effort required to move their greater mass.
2. Exercise intensity
Needless to say, you’ll burn more calories climbing a mountain than you will strolling along a paved beach path at the same pace for the same number of steps.
But no matter where you’re walking, the faster you go, the more calories (and fat) you’ll ultimately burn. In short, power walking beats strolling when it comes to weight loss.
3. Fitness level
As your body adapts to walking, you’ll burn fewer calories — unless you pick up the pace or otherwise increase (you guessed it) the intensity.
“There are easy ways to continue to make walking a challenge, like adding incline (e.g., hills), stairs, or speed,” says Hodges.
4. Genetics
Just as some people build muscle faster than others, calorie burn varies from person to person.
“But regardless of how quickly or slowly you’re able to lose weight, you can lose it,” says Thieme. “The key is to exercise consistently in a way that challenges you.”
Can Walking 10,000 Steps a Day Help With Weight Loss?
The 10,000-steps-a-day recommendation — which adds up to nearly 4.5 miles if you’re 5’7″ — dates back to 1960s Japan when a pedometer called the manpo-kei (roughly translated to “10,000 steps meter”) was released.
In other words, the 10,000-step goal originated as more of a marketing tactic than a science-based recommendation.
Still, adding any amount of walking to your daily routine can increase your overall activity level, which is key to weight loss no matter how much you have to lose.
“But if you’re not seriously overweight, walking 10,000 steps a day won’t be enough on its own for you to achieve your weight loss goal,” says Thieme. “You’ll also need to dial in your diet and perform high-intensity workouts consistently.”
Should I Walk More Than 10,000 Steps Per Day?
Short answer: Yes.
Completing 10,000 steps a day at a brisk pace — at least 3 mph — is enough for basic upkeep.
(The CDC recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week to maintain or improve your overall health.)
But it probably shouldn’t be your only form of exercise during the week.
Unless you’re severely overweight, walking 10,000 steps a day is something you should do in addition to a workout program.
“Most people should do both [work out and walk 10,000 steps] each day,” says Thieme. “And if you can, walk more than 10,000 steps a day — it’s a good starting point, but the more active you are, the healthier and leaner you’ll be.”
Don’t have a wearable fitness tracker to count your steps? Timing them also works.
One small study found that walking for 50 to 70 minutes three times a week helped reduce waist circumference in obese women.
Another study found that participants who followed a reduced-calorie diet and took an hour-long walk five times a week lost more weight and body fat than those who only cut calories.
What Are the Benefits of Walking?
Walking is a cheap and easy way to improve your overall fitness, especially if you’re just getting started or have a lot of pounds to lose.
“If you’re extremely overweight, walking can be a hugely effective way to begin your weight loss journey, helping you burn calories and fat, build your endurance, and increase your energy levels,” says Thieme.
It can also improve your health and contribute to a healthy lifestyle in other ways.
“Walking is a weight-bearing exercise, so it can help prevent bone loss as we age,” says Linda Hodges, an Iowa-based doctor of osteopathic medicine and author of Weight Loss That Works.
Even better: Physical activity like walking is shown to help alleviate stress and improve overall mood.
*Calorie values calculated by running data from the Compendium of Physical Activities through Cornell University’s METs (metabolic equivalents) to Calories Calculator.