In the constant search to stay in shape and lead a healthy lifestyle, and faced with the difficulty of finding a
physical activity
that helps them lose weight, many people ask themselves:
what is the best way to burn calories: riding a bicycle or run?
.
Mayo Clinic
assures that one of the most effective techniques to
lose body fat
is through aerobic exercises such as running, cycling or swimming for at least 30 minutes several days a week.
That said, while all three types of exercise offer significant benefits for cardiovascular health and weight loss, there is one that may be more effective.
What is better for losing weight: running or cycling?
According to the specialized health site
Women's Health,
running burns between 566 and 839 calories
in an hour, while
cycling can consume between 498 and 738
in the same period.
It should be noted that other factors that influence the number of calories consumed include age, body mass, and gender, among others.
When considering calorie burning,
running can facilitate weight loss more quickly than cycling
. However, Olivia Amato, a trainer at the American National Academy of Medicine, states that "one of the best things about
cycling
is that it has a
low impact on the joints of the body
." This allows you to prolong the duration of the exercise and, therefore, consume more calories in total.
On the other hand,
running can cause injuries
such as stress fractures, tendonitis and knee pain, because it is a high-impact activity.
In this sense, both exercises have pros and cons, and beyond which of the two types of physical activity help burn more calories, there are also other aspects that should be considered when choosing one or the other.
Running
, in addition to
improving your cardiovascular endurance
and burning calories, provides significant advantages for your overall health. Astrid Swan, a trainer at the National Academy of Medicine, notes that this activity "has many long-term benefits" and also
helps prevent osteoporosis and boosts metabolism
.
On the other hand, running is economical, since you only need one pair of shoes, which makes it a good alternative to stay active. On the contrary, the main disadvantage of cycling is the cost, since you need a bicycle. Another advantage of cycling is that in addition to doing it to stay in shape, it can become a means of transportation to go to work or go shopping.