• Running is a valid option for weight loss, but so is effective dieting.marathon runner image by Photosani from Fotolia.com
  
  

Burning Calories

• During a one-mile run, men burn about 125 calories, while women burn about 105. Because a pound of fat is equivalent to about 3,500 calories, a man would need to do about 28 miles of running for each pound. A woman would need to run about 33.5 miles.
  
  

Dietary Considerations

• Weight loss is the result of consuming more calories than are ingested. Cutting down calories through dieting can also yield weight-loss results instead of running to lose pounds.
  
  

Bottom Line

• It is best to combine diet with exercise, so running and careful eating should be done together to lose weight. "Consuming fewer calories through dietary changes seems to promote weight loss more effectively than does exercise and physical activity. But physical activity is also important in weight control," says Dr. Donald Hensrud, preventative medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic.