All you need to start walking is just a pair of comfortable shoes and a step counting watch. If you are trying to improve your health or lose weight, counting your steps while walking will help you get more motivated.
However, it is not always possible to count the number of calories burned in 12,000 steps of walking. Calorie burning depends on each person's weight and walking speed.
How many kilometers are 12,000 steps?
The length of the stride varies depending on each person's height, but in general, it will take about 2,000 steps to walk 1 distance (about 1.6 km). That means walking 12,000 steps is equivalent to about 6 miles.
Smaller people can walk less than 12,000 steps and taller people can walk more than 12,000 steps.
How many calories do you burn in 12,000 steps?
Factors that help determine the number of calories burned in 12,000 steps include: Height, walking length, weight, speed and terrain.
However, according to Livestrong, on average, walking 12,000 steps can burn about 400 to 600 calories.
Can walking 12,000 steps help you lose weight?
If you are trying to lose weight, burning calories by counting your steps while walking may be helpful. A 2008 compilation in the Journal of Family Medicine investigated the effects of counting steps while walking on weight loss. Even without changing their diet, people who use step counters can still lose about 0.4 kg in 2 months, or about more than 2 kg in a year.
However, you don't have to walk 12,000 steps a day. A May 2019 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that just 4,400 steps a day can have a weight loss effect on women.