Burn more calories while walking by varying strolling speed, scientists say

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There is a simple way to burn more calories when you walk, scientists say - vary your speed.

Changing walking speeds increases a person's metabolic rate by about 20% more than when walking at a constant pace, a new study from Ohio State University shows.

An increased metabolic rate means more burnt calories.

People naturally vary their walking speeds. In fact, there are very few situations were people walk at a steady pace.

Engineering professor Manoj Srinivasan, who co-authored the study, said: "Measuring the metabolic cost of changing speeds is very important because people don't live their lives on treadmills and do not walk at constant speeds."

The study suggests that traditional methods of measuring how many calories are burnt while walking may underestimate the true amount of energy expended.

It also showed that people naturally increased their walking speed when covering long distances and slowed over shorter distance.

The researchers measured the cost of changing walking speeds by having people alter their pace on a treadmill while the treadmill's speed remained steady:

Offering advice on how to burn more calories when waking, Professor Srinivasan suggested taking a stroll in a way that feels unnatural.

"Just do weird things," he said, "Walk with a backpack, walk with weights on your legs. Walk for a while, then stop and repeat that. Walk in a curve as opposed to a straight line."