It also helps burn excess calories. Since obesity and high blood pressure are among the leading risk factors for heart attack and stroke, walking often protection against two of our major killers. Walking burns approximately the same amount of calories per mile as does running, a fact particularly appealing to those who find it difficult to sustain the jarring effects of long distance jogging. In weight-bearing activities like walking, heavier individuals will burn more calories than lighter persons. Although increasing walking speed does not burn significantly more calories per mile, a more vigorous walking pace will produce more dramatic conditioning effects.
Recent studies show that there are also residual benefits to vigorous exercise.
For a period of time after a dynamic workout, one's metabolism remains elevated above normal which results in additional calories burned. That's because it's visually injury-free and has the lowest dropout rate of any form of exercise. Like other forms of exercise. Beginning walkers almost invariably report that they feel better and sleep better, and that their mental outlook improves. Walking also can exert a favorable influence on personal habits.