Original press release (phys_org goes nuts with Javascript disabled for some reason)

https://news.stanford.edu/2022/04/28/runners-prefer-pace-reg...

The full report is also available, the main point of interest to the casual exerciser hoping to lose weight is this:

> "Overall, when we go for a run, although a goal may be to burn calories, we move at a speed to minimize them. This is consistent with free-living preferences of other, nonhuman, animals for energy-optimal locomotion, be it walking, flying, or swimming."

One conclusion might be that if weight loss is the goal, when out exercising it's a good idea to occassionally push the pace well beyond the comfort level (although this in turn increases the risk of injury, so keep that in mind, i.e. warm-up first).