© Thomas_EyeDesign/E+/Getty ImagesYou already know that walking can put you on the path to weight loss. After all, it can burn up to 400 calories an hour. But putting one foot in front of the other can help you slim down in other, more surprising ways, too.

"Walking can have a powerful effect on your mood and emotions, which influence your eating habits," says Sharon Richter, R.D., a dietitian based in New York City. Need more motivation to lace up those sneakers and hit the trail or path? Consider these walking bonus benefits. 

1. It can stave off cravings.

Walking increases your energy, and that can keep you from reaching for the office candy dish for an afternoon pick-me-up. Like other forms of exercise, it can also ramp up levels of feel-good endorphins, says Richter. This effect may counteract your yen for sugar- or carb-filled treats, which your body often craves for a temporary mood boost.

2. It helps you sleep better.

© megaflopp/iStock/Getty ImagesPoor sleep is a primary driver of weight gain. Studies show that not getting enough shut-eye suppresses your production of leptin, the hormone that controls your sense of fullness, while increasing your levels of ghrelin, the hunger-stimulating hormone. So it's no wonder astudy published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who average 5 or less hours of sleep a night are 15% more likely to be obese than those who get at least 7 hours. (And if you're always tired, you probably don't feel like exercising.)

Exercise like walking can help you score a better night of all-important sleep. For the best results, try scheduling your workout for the morning: A study published in the journal SLEEP found that people who got moving in the AM nodded off more quickly at night and slept more soundly. 

3. It puts you in a healthy state of mind.

© Philipp Nemenz/Cultura/Getty ImagesWhen you go for a walk, you're doing something good for your body. This simple expression of willpower builds on itself: You'll be more motivated to stay healthy at mealtime, says Richter. You may feel inspired to order that side of butternut squash instead of mac n' cheese at dinner.

And walking drives restraint more than other types of exercise, explains Richter You're less likely to feel like you "earned" a high-calorie reward after a walk compared to the way you might feel after a sweaty run or boot camp class.

4. It keeps you from grazing.

© Deborah Kolb/Image Source/Getty ImagesGoing for a post-dinner stroll can keep you from snacking in the evening. "It's a common weight-loss trap," says Richter.

"Many people eat healthy all day, but then mindlessly munch from dinner until bedtime." In fact, researchers from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, found that people who stopped eating after 7 PM for 2 weeks shed about a pound, while those who didn't gained a pound. "Getting out for a walk can help signal that it's time to stop eating," says Richter.

It can also get you off of the couch, which is ground zero for polishing off bags of chips and cookies.

5. It reduces stress eating.

© OcusFocus/iStock/Getty ImagesFind yourself reaching for a bag of chips when the pressure rises? Drop the bag and head out the door: Walking will help you blow off that steam.

A Swedish study found that office workers who strolled for 30 minutes during lunch felt more relaxed and enthusiastic for the rest of the day than those who didn't. Can't carve out that amount of time?

The study revealed that even a 15-minute stroll had beneficial effects.