Treadmill Vs. Elliptical Which Burns More Fat?

A 2009 study led by Dr. Katherine M. Flegal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, titled "Prevalence and Trends in Obesity Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2008" found that more than 30 percent of all United States adults are obese. Though the "Journal of the American Medical Association" published study noted that obesity has slowed in growth between 1999 and 2008, it remains a major concern for the American public. For people seeking fitness routines for weight loss, the most pertinent question is what cardio machine will help burn calories the quickest.

Calories Burned

The Harvard Medical School published research in 2004 that outlines estimated calorie burning rates after 30 minutes of common exercises and daily tasks. The research states that after 30 minutes of moderate exercise on an elliptical trainer, an average person weighing 185 lbs. will burn 400 calories. If the same person were to use a combination of walking and jogging over 30 minutes, he would burn 266 calories. If the person ran at five miles per hour, the pace for a 12-minute mile, the calorie burn increases to 355.

Function

Treadmills and elliptical machines both offer a significant calorie burn. According to certified fitness trainer Brett Spottke on his website Exercise Equipment Expert, any difference in calorie burning efficiency between the machines is negligible. Spottke calls calorie burning a "non-factor" that at best will only help you lose 1 lb. more for every 24 hours you exercise.

Expert Insight

The amount of impact on your joints can be a major factor in your weight loss, however. Speaking for an October 2010 Reuters article titled "Treadmill vs. Elliptical, Motor vs. Momentum," Dr. Henry Williford of the American College of Sports Medicine notes that elliptical machines have significantly less impact on your ankles, knees and hips than treadmills do. If you are constantly being injured while running on a treadmill due to the high impact of the machine, it is likely to derail any weight loss progress you are trying to make.

Considerations

Many elliptical trainers also have handlebars that you grip and work your upper body with while you are moving your legs. This could mean extra calories burned by quickly elevating your heart rate. However, one draw back of an elliptical machine is that the pace is controlled by the user. When you become tired on an elliptical, the natural inclination is to slow your pace to catch your breath. If you slow down while running on a treadmill at a set speed, you will inevitably fall off the back of the machine. The forced pace of the treadmill may translate into you working beyond your comfort zone more readily than you would on an elliptical.

Perceived Exertion

According to Elliptical Trainers, the perceived exertion level you experience on an elliptical machine is less than that of a treadmill. This means that you do not feel as tired while working out on the elliptical machine at the same level as the treadmill. If you become easily exhausted jogging on a treadmill, an elliptical machine may be a better weight loss choice because you will be able to workout for a more sustained period of time.