What sports burn the most calories? Sports to play if you want to lose weight

What sports burn the most calories? Sports to play if you want to lose weight

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM

Even though it is widely known that running is the most effective way to burn fat, some people may not love running or may find it too taxing. Cycling and swimming are great exercises that can help you achieve this goal, as they allow you to burn a lot of calories in a relatively short amount of time.

What sports burn the most calories?
A traceur performs stunts during a parkour competition on the 999-step stairway at Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park on July 23, 2022, in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province of China. Photo: Yang Huafeng
Source: Getty Images

Due to the massive problem of obesity, heart problems, and exhaustion, which is like inviting diseases one after another, the subject of weight gain is attracting a lot of attention these days. Participating in these activities helps burn fat and improve your cognitive abilities and memory. The following are sports to play if you want to lose weight.

10. Gymnastics

Which sports burn the most calories per hour?
Male Gymnast is doing a handstand on Pommel Horse. Photo: Sanjeri
Source: Getty Images

Extreme levels of stamina, fitness, coordination, and agility are needed for this activity. In this case, the weight loss benefits scale with the duration of the action. Gym time, even if only for 15 minutes a day, is an effective weight loss tool.

Gymnastics is a great way to keep in shape, build muscle, and boost your overall muscle tone and mass. If you combine any of the best sports for weight loss from the lists above with a nutritious diet, you can lose weight and prevent health problems associated with obesity much more quickly.

9. Swimming

What is the sport that burns the most calories?
Milorad Cavic, a European champion (2007) in the 50-meter butterfly, is photographed on location at Founder's Park swimming pool during an ad shoot. Photo: Stephen Frink
Source: Getty Images

Swimming is an excellent choice to get rid of belly fat quickly. To increase calorie burn, runners should increase their speed and the distance they cover. Also, different strokes have different effects on fat reduction.

Every muscle in the body is used, from the neck down to the muscles in the toes and even the face, so not only does this help people lose weight and helps them become more robust and flexible. The cardiovascular benefits of aerobic workouts, including reduced joint stress, can also be enjoyed. Get in shape quickly by enrolling in a swimming class.

8. Martial Arts

Which sports burn more calories?
Male and female karate players fight during a competition against a blue background. Photo: Simonkr
Source: Getty Images

Martial arts may be a good option for those looking for a new challenge and the finest sport to reduce abdominal fat. Karate, Kung Fu, and other martial arts styles are only a few options. Karate is for those who want a total-body workout.

With its emphasis on kicks, punches, and strikes, karate is a fantastic way to strengthen your core muscles. However, if you want to keep your body in shape and trim down, Kung Fu is the way to go. The kicking, jumping, and striking in this martial arts style are great for building leg muscle and burning calories. Martial arts is one of the sports best for burning calories.

7. Soccer

Which athletes burn the most calories?
Blackpool's Jake Daniels during the Sky Bet Championship matches between Peterborough United and Blackpool at London Road Stadium on May 7, 2022, in Peterborough, England. Photo: Lee Parker
Source: Getty Images

Obesity is a battle that can be fought by engaging in some soccer. In terms of calorie burn, it is among the top sports. To lose weight quickly, play soccer twice or thrice weekly. Nothing beats soccer for a total body workout that works your heart and muscles soccer.

Soccer, which uses both slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibres, helps you gain muscle and burns fat. It boosts metabolism, and whether you play offence or defence, sprinting and quick movements will aid in weight loss.

6. Basketball

Which sport is best for burning calories?
Catamounts' Guard Robin Duncan (55) shoots a layup with Friars' Center Nate Watson (0) defending on December 7, 2021, at Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Photo: Gregory Fisher
Source: Getty Images

Playing basketball requires a lot of energy, and that fuel burns many calories, which is why it is recommended for weight loss. Playing basketball requires a wide range of motor skills and fine-tuned synchronisation of the hands and eyes—a rapid increase in calorie expenditure and perspiration results from full-body participation in the game.

Several factors affect how many calories you burn while playing basketball, including how long you play, how hard you play, whether you play on a full or half court, and so on. Basketball is one of the best games for weight loss, so get some friends that share your interests and get a game going. Basketballers are among the athletes who burn the most calories.

5. Sprinting

What sports burn the most calories per hour?
A mid-action image of a woman sprinter during a sprint start from blocks on an outdoor athletics track. Photo: Peepo
Source: Getty Images

Sprinting is one of the most effective fat-burning activities, Therefore it is a good option if you want to lose weight quickly. Continuously increasing your breathing rate during sprinting raises the amount of oxygen in your blood, which speeds up your heart rate and metabolism. The increased oxygen content aids in cleansing the body.

Sprinting is an excellent full-body workout that continues to burn calories and promote fat loss for days after the training. The term "afterburn" refers to this occurrence, which is technically known as the "post-exercise oxygen consumption" (EPOC) effect. Sprinting for short distances increases core body temperature, heart rate, and blood flow, contributing to more rapid weight loss.

4. Racquets

What sports burn the most calories?
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada plays a backhand shot during his round-robin match at the Nitto ATP Finals. Taylor Fritz won the game 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-2. Photo: Nicolò Campo
Source: Getty Images

Playing racquet sports like tennis, badminton, or racquetball is a great way to get in shape because of the constant hand-to-foot motion required to keep up with the bouncing ball or shuttlecock. Racquetball is typically played indoors, while tennis and badminton are typically played outside. It is one of the sports which burn more calories.

Because they use every muscle in the body, racquet sports are among the most efficient ways to lose weight. To put it another way, this is a fantastic way to burn calories. The cardiovascular benefits of racquets make them a great addition to any cross-training program. Join a local club that offers racquet sports to get in shape while having fun.

3. Cycling

Which sports burn the most calories per hour?
Mature cyclist riding a bicycle on a coastal path, Kent, United Kingdom. Photo: David Oxberry
Source: Getty Images

Many people recommend cycling as an effective cardio workout. It is a great alternative to running or jogging since it allows you to maintain a high heart rate with less stress on your knees, ankles, and other joints. Weight loss sports come in many forms, but if you choose cycling, you may burn many calories just by pedalling (given you are running fast).

Faster cycling results in more significant caloric expenditure because of the increased demand on the body. The amount of calories burned during cycling is proportional to the cyclist's weight, cycling speed, and time on the bike. Cycling is one of the sports that burn the most calories.

2. Boxing

What is the sport that burns the most calories?
Amanda Serrano, right, and Katie Taylor during their undisputed world lightweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA. Photo: Stephen McCarthy
Source: Getty Images

In terms of popular fitness fads or workouts, boxing is a constant. To be successful at boxing as a sport for weight loss, you need to keep up your athletic abilities, such as strength, speed, agility, and hand-eye coordination. These routines can be done for either athletic or physical improvement.

Boxing's total-body workouts are great for weight loss because of the number of calories burned. This is why it is often rated as a top sport for weight loss. Boxing has several health benefits outside only helping people lose weight, including enhancing cardiovascular fitness, building muscle, and relieving stress.

1. Parkour

Which sports burn more calories?
A man is jumping from roof to roof parkour. Active lifestyle. Courage and Adrenaline. Roofer. Photos: Vagengeym Elena
Source: Getty Images

Parkour is a relatively new type of high-energy, multi-movement sport. Traceurs who train to navigate hazardous terrain from one location to another without using motorised vehicles or other mechanical devices. The fastest and most efficient method of doing this sports-related workout is essential. Parkour is ranked first among the sports which burn the most calories per hour.

Jumping, running, climbing, mantling, vaulting, and rolling require parkour skills, with specific moves performed according to the situation. It is a great sport for weight loss because it boosts your metabolism and causes you to burn more calories in a given period.

How can I burn 1000 calories in 2 hours?

How can i burn 1000 calories in 2 hours?
People exercise at the gym. Photo: Filadendron
Source: Getty Images

Other cardiovascular activities are equally helpful, but sprint interval and circuit training are likely the most efficient ways to burn 1,000 calories in an hour. Other excellent forms of exercise include boxing, dancing, jumping rope, rowing, and swimming.

Does sweating burn calories?

The body naturally regulates body temperature by sweating. It accomplishes this by evaporating water and salt, which cools you. Although sweating does not directly burn calories, losing enough liquid through sweating will lead you to lose water weight.

So, what sports burn the most calories? There is no universal rule that all sports have the same calorie-burning benefits. For example, sporting events like basketball and football call for brief bursts of energy yet have a modest impact on the body. Because of the skills required in parkour, one burns 600-900 calories per hour.

READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo's family: All the facts on CR7’s wife, children, parents, and siblings

Sports Brief published an article on all facts about Cristiano Ronaldo's family, his wife, children, parents, and siblings. Find out more about Cristiano by clicking on the link above!

Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.
Tags
Floyd MayweatherGiannis Antetokounmpo