Best treadmill seekers: here's news. The best treadmill to have is the home treadmill because research shows you burn more calories.

Did you know? A weight loss study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that people who had a treadmill at home lost an average of four to eight pounds more than those who didn't have treadmills. Get that machine!

Never mind the specific brand as long as it's one of the recognized ones. There is a fair level of parity between brands these days. What you want instead is the treadmill that helps you burn more calories ... and that according to research is the one at home.

Firstly, there's the motivation of owning a treadmill that makes you walk more. In fact, nothing seems to light up a walker's eyes more than the thought of buying a treadmill. What is it about having our own treadmills at home that makes us feel like we have arrived in the world of fitness and sport?

Secondly, your walking program will also be easier for you to follow -- and do -- if you get on a home treadmill ... because it's easier to keep track of all four parameters of time, speed, distance and calorie burn, and you can do it any time of day, in any clothing.

The secret to getting the right home treadmill is to try it at the store before you buy. If you have access to a good fitness instructor, you may like to get advice on the best brand names to look out for.

Should you get a motorized one or a non-motorized one? The jury is in ... always the best treadmill is the motorized one. Non-motorized ones are really not quite right for the body, because you have to move the belt along yourself with every forward stride (with an added backward push of the belt) -- not quite how you walk.

What else would you need to look for in a "best treadmill" for the home? You would need to check if its motor is heavy duty. Especially if you will keep up walking for long durations regularly every day. Listen to the hum of the motor and see if it's unduly noisy and will disturb the household.

You will also need to see the controls it offers on the digital display. Can you adjust speed, see the distance walked, the time taken? Is this data credible?

In general it has been found that treadmill data is more reliable and accurate than that on some other gym equipment because cardiologists use these to research their patients' heart conditions.

But be aware of the fact that many exercise equipment manufacturers tend to inflate their data a bit, because it has been found that if the data were too conservative, the demand for that "best treadmill" model falls.

People seem to want to see "high burn numbers" on their displays!

You also need to check the warranty. If it fails, you'll need 24X7 service, or the regularity of your walking program will be held to ransom. And lastly will it fit in the room space you have?

Frankly, between the top ten comparable brands, I have seen very little "real" differentiation to decide if one brand's better than the other. That's why I'd advice you not to worry about buying "the best". As we have said earlier, the one in your home is going be your best ally -- and your best treadmill!