Activity Burn Calories Calculator

Activity Calorie Burn Calculator

kg lbs

Sitting quietly Reading/Writing Walking, slow (2 mph) Yoga/Stretching Housework, general Weightlifting, general Gardening, light Walking, brisk (3 mph) Cycling, light (5-9 mph) Dancing, moderate Aerobics, low impact Swimming, moderate Cycling, moderate (10-12 mph) Jogging (5 mph) Running (5.2 mph) Running (6 mph) Running (7 mph) Running (8 mph)

function calculateCaloriesBurned() { var bodyWeightInput = document.getElementById("bodyWeight").value; var weightUnit = document.getElementById("weightUnit").value; var activityDurationInput = document.getElementById("activityDuration").value; var activityTypeMet = document.getElementById("activityType").value; var bodyWeight = parseFloat(bodyWeightInput); var activityDuration = parseFloat(activityDurationInput); var metValue = parseFloat(activityTypeMet); if (isNaN(bodyWeight) || bodyWeight <= 0) { document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive body weight."; return; } if (isNaN(activityDuration) || activityDuration <= 0) { document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive activity duration."; return; } if (isNaN(metValue) || metValue <= 0) { document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please select a valid activity type."; return; } var bodyWeightKg; if (weightUnit === "lbs") { bodyWeightKg = bodyWeight / 2.20462; // Convert lbs to kg } else { bodyWeightKg = bodyWeight; } var durationHours = activityDuration / 60; // Convert minutes to hours // Formula: Calories Burned = METs * Body Weight (kg) * Duration (hours) var caloriesBurned = metValue * bodyWeightKg * durationHours; document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Estimated Calories Burned: " + caloriesBurned.toFixed(2) + " kcal"; }

Understanding Your Calorie Burn During Activities

Knowing how many calories you burn during physical activity can be a powerful tool for managing your weight, planning your fitness routine, and understanding your energy balance. Our Activity Calorie Burn Calculator helps you estimate the energy expenditure for various exercises based on your body weight and the duration of the activity.

What are METs?

The core of this calculator relies on a concept called Metabolic Equivalents (METs). A MET is a unit used to estimate the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity. One MET is defined as the energy expenditure of sitting quietly, which is roughly 1 calorie per kilogram of body weight per hour (kcal/kg/hour).

• 1 MET: The energy cost of sitting quietly.
• 2 METs: An activity that burns twice the energy of sitting quietly.
• 7 METs: An activity that burns seven times the energy of sitting quietly.

Different activities have different MET values. For example, walking slowly might have a MET value of 2.0, while running at a brisk pace could be 10.0 or higher. These values are standardized and provide a consistent way to compare the intensity of various physical tasks.

How the Calculation Works

The formula used to estimate calories burned is:

Calories Burned = METs × Body Weight (kg) × Duration (hours)

Let's break down the components:

• METs: This value is selected based on the activity type you choose from the dropdown.
• Body Weight (kg): Your weight is converted to kilograms if you input it in pounds. This is crucial because the METs formula is standardized with kilograms.
• Duration (hours): The time you spend on the activity, converted from minutes to hours.

Example Calculation

Let's say you weigh 150 lbs (approximately 68 kg) and you go jogging (5 mph) for 45 minutes.

• Body Weight: 150 lbs ÷ 2.20462 = 68.04 kg
• Activity Type (Jogging 5 mph): METs = 7.0
• Duration: 45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours

Using the formula:

Calories Burned = 7.0 × 68.04 kg × 0.75 hours = 357.21 kcal

So, jogging for 45 minutes at 5 mph would burn approximately 357 calories for a person weighing 150 lbs.

Factors Affecting Calorie Burn

While the METs formula provides a good estimate, actual calorie expenditure can vary due to several factors:

• Individual Metabolism: Everyone's body processes energy slightly differently.
• Fitness Level: A fitter individual might perform the same activity with less effort (and thus burn fewer calories) than someone less fit.
• Environmental Factors: Exercising in extreme heat or cold, or at high altitudes, can increase calorie burn.
• Body Composition: Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue.
• Intensity and Form: The exact intensity and efficiency of your movements can impact the actual energy used.

This calculator provides a useful estimate to help you track your activity and understand your energy expenditure, but it should be used as a guide rather than an exact measurement.