Can walking only once a week reduce body fat? A 2026 study suggests that it can—if the weekly exercise time is long enough.
Researchers studied 315 inactive adults in Hong Kong. All participants were overweight and had extra fat around the waist. They joined one of three groups: interval walking once a week, interval walking three times a week, or health education without an exercise program. The study continued for 16 weeks. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Both walking groups completed 75 minutes of interval exercise each week. The three-times-a-week group divided this time into three sessions. The once-a-week group did three 25-minute sessions on the same day, with 15-to-30-minute breaks between them. During each session, participants changed between fast walking and slower recovery periods.
After 16 weeks, body fat mass decreased by 2.6% in the once-a-week group and 3.5% in the three-times-a-week group. The difference between these two groups was not significant. Both groups also reduced their body fat percentage and waist size and improved their heart and lung fitness. (nature.com)
However, this does not mean that a short walk once a week is enough for everyone. The once-a-week participants still exercised for a total of 75 minutes, and the training was supervised. They also spent four weeks slowly getting used to the program. In addition, the study focused on inactive adults with extra weight around the waist, so the results may not be the same for all people.
The main lesson is encouraging: frequency is not the only important point. If your schedule is busy, doing interval walking on one day may still help. Start at a safe level, change between comfortable and brisk walking, and gradually increase your exercise time. The best plan is one that is safe and that you can continue.










