Calorie Activity Calculator
Understanding how many calories you burn during physical activity is a key component of managing your fitness and weight goals. This calculator uses the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values to estimate your calorie expenditure for various activities.
What are METs?
A Metabolic Equivalent of Task (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 cost of sitting quietly, which is roughly 1 calorie per kilogram of body weight per hour. Activities are then assigned a MET value relative to this resting state. For example, an activity with a MET value of 4 means you are expending four times the energy compared to sitting quietly.
How it Works
The calculator uses a standard formula to estimate calorie burn:
Calories Burned = Duration (minutes) × (METs × 3.5 × Weight (kg)) / 200
This formula takes into account your body weight, the intensity of the activity (via its MET value), and the duration of the activity to provide an estimated calorie expenditure.
Factors Affecting Calorie Burn
While this calculator provides a good estimate, actual calorie burn can vary due to several factors:
- Individual Metabolism: Everyone's body processes energy slightly differently.
- Fitness Level: Fitter individuals may perform the same activity with less effort, burning fewer calories.
- Environmental Factors: Temperature, altitude, and terrain can influence energy expenditure.
- Activity Intensity: Even within a single activity type, intensity can vary greatly (e.g., a leisurely walk vs. a brisk power walk).
- Body Composition: Muscle mass burns more calories at rest than fat mass.
Using the Calculator
Simply enter your body weight, select the activity you performed, and input the duration in minutes. The calculator will then provide an estimate of the calories you burned.
Example Calculation:
Let's say a person weighs 160 lbs and runs for 45 minutes. Running at 6 mph has a MET value of 8.0.
- Weight in kg: 160 lbs × 0.453592 = 72.57 kg
- Calories Burned = 45 minutes × (8.0 METs × 3.5 × 72.57 kg) / 200
- Calories Burned = 45 × (2032.0) / 200
- Calories Burned = 45 × 10.16
- Calories Burned ≈ 457 calories
This calculator provides a quick and easy way to estimate your energy expenditure, helping you make informed decisions about your diet and exercise routine.
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function calculateCalories() {
var bodyWeightLbs = parseFloat(document.getElementById("bodyWeight").value);
var activityMETs = parseFloat(document.getElementById("activityType").value);
var activityDurationMinutes = parseFloat(document.getElementById("activityDuration").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(bodyWeightLbs) || bodyWeightLbs <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "
Please enter a valid body weight.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(activityMETs) || activityMETs <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "
Please select a valid activity.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(activityDurationMinutes) || activityDurationMinutes <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "
Please enter a valid duration in minutes.";
return;
}
// Convert pounds to kilograms (1 lb = 0.453592 kg)
var bodyWeightKg = bodyWeightLbs * 0.453592;
// Formula: Calories Burned = Duration (minutes) * (METs * 3.5 * Weight (kg)) / 200
var caloriesBurned = (activityDurationMinutes * (activityMETs * 3.5 * bodyWeightKg)) / 200;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Calories Burned:
" + caloriesBurned.toFixed(2) + " kcal";
}