A popular fitness trend, the 12-3-30 treadmill workout, has gained over 14 million views on TikTok. The exercise involves walking at a 12% incline for three miles per hour, for 30 minutes. Researchers compared this method to regular running and found that while it may not burn calories as fast, it uses more fat as fuel.
A study published in the International Journal of Exercise Science involved 16 healthy adults who participated in two workouts: one session of 12-3-30 and another session of self-paced treadmill running. The researchers aimed to determine which method burned more calories and how the body fuels each workout.
The results showed that running burned calories faster, with approximately 13 calories per minute compared to 10 calories per minute for 12-3-30. However, 12-3-30 used more fat as a fuel source, accounting for around 41% of energy, while running relied more heavily on carbohydrates.
Fitness experts note that the actual fat-burning advantage of 12-3-30 is modest and should be considered in context with overall calorie burn. The most important thing is consistency when it comes to exercise, regardless of the method chosen.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/viral-treadmill-trend-may-burn-more-fat-than-running-researchers-say