Losing weight if you are overweight or obese decreases your risk of developing a number of serious medical problems, including diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer. Walking is a simple and effective way to lose weight that is appropriate for most people, even those of advanced age. Walking on a treadmill enables exercise and weight loss to continue during poor weather, after dark or when it is otherwise inconvenient or unsafe to walk outdoors.
Treadmills and Weight Loss
Walking promotes weight loss by burning calories, increasing heart rate and adding muscle. Depending on your pace and weight, brisk walking on a treadmill can burn as many as 414 calories per hour, according to MayoClinic.com. Burning 500 calories per day, seven days per week, will result in 1 lb. of weight loss per week. For maximum effectiveness, combine healthy eating with walking for weight loss.
Treadmill Benefits
Treadmills offer a customizable workout, enabling users to increase or decrease pace and walk or run on an incline for a more intense workout. Treadmills are especially beneficial to anyone who lives in a rainy or cold climate or who lives in a rural, poorly lit area. Many treadmills also come equipped with programs that can track the number of miles walked and calories burned per workout and over time.
Treadmills vs. Walking Outdoors
Although treadmills help with weight loss and improve overall fitness, they cannot provide you with a workout identical to outdoor walking. This is because treadmills do not offer the same level of air resistance that outdoor exercise provides, a drawback that decreases your workload by about 10 percent, according to Running Planet.
Warnings
Using a treadmill poses the same risks as outdoor exercise. If you suffer from heart disease or another medical condition, consult your doctor before using a treadmill for weight loss. Your doctor can work with you to develop an exercise routine that is safe for your specific health condition and overall fitness level.
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