Does Roller-Skating Help Your Legs Lose Fat?

If you've reached the point at which your legs rub together just a little too much when you walk, it's time to find an exercise regimen to help you burn fat and tone your muscles. Rollerskating and inline skating are effective types of exercise because they burn calories at a moderate rate, resulting in the loss of body fat overall. It is not possible, however, to solely target your leg fat through any exercise.

  1. Losing Fat

    • Spot reduction is a common fitness belief that indicates it's possible to target the fat in any part of your body, but it is a myth. Although you're unable to burn a specific area of fat in your body, regular exercise will result in gradual loss of fat throughout your body, including the legs. Losing fat occurs when you burn more calories than you consume; when you burn an excess of 3,500 calories, you'll lose 1 pound of fat.

    Skating Calories Burned

    • Rollerskating and inline skating are effective ways to burn calories to help you create a calorie deficit that leads to significant fat loss. The longer and more vigorously you can exercise, the more calories you'll burn. "Fitness" magazine notes that a 155-pound person will burn 249 calories in 30 minutes of roller-skating. Harvard Medical School reports that the same person will burn 260 calories in 30 minutes of inline skating.

    Building Muscle

    • In addition to being effective ways to burn calories, rollerskating and inline skating also contribute to increased muscle mass in your legs. The muscle won't be overly visible until you burn your leg fat, but once much of the fat is gone, you'll be able to boast shapely, defined legs. Other aerobic exercises that burn calories and build leg muscles include jogging and cycling. If you want to increase the rate at which you build muscle through strength training, add squats and lunges into your workout regimen.

    Aerobic Exercise

    • Rollerskating and inline skating are examples of aerobic exercise. Each exercise involves several muscle groups, has a distinct rhythm and you can maintain each activity on a continual basis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that adults get 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise weekly or, if you prefer a moderate pace, aim for 150 minutes. Benefits of aerobic exercise, according to MayoClinic.com, include better cardiovascular health, reduced risk of developing serious health conditions and increased stamina.