Exercise Calorie Burn Calculator
Estimate the number of calories you burn during various physical activities using this calculator. Understanding your calorie expenditure can help you manage your fitness goals, whether it's weight loss, maintenance, or simply tracking your activity levels.
Understanding Calorie Burn During Exercise
The number of calories you burn during physical activity is influenced by several factors, including your body weight, the intensity and type of exercise, and the duration of the activity. This calculator uses a widely accepted method based on Metabolic Equivalents (METs) to provide an estimate.
What are METs?
A Metabolic Equivalent (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 with higher MET values burn more calories.
- Body Weight: Heavier individuals generally burn more calories for the same activity because their bodies require more energy to move.
- Exercise Type and Intensity: Different activities have different MET values. High-intensity activities like running or HIIT have higher METs than lower-intensity activities like walking or yoga.
- Duration: The longer you perform an activity, the more calories you will burn.
How the Calculation Works
The calculator uses the following formula:
Calories Burned = (METs × Body Weight in kg × Duration in minutes) / 200
Where:
- METs: The Metabolic Equivalent value for the chosen activity.
- Body Weight in kg: Your weight converted from pounds to kilograms (1 lb ≈ 0.453592 kg).
- Duration in minutes: The total time spent on the activity.
Example Calculation
Let's say a person weighs 160 lbs and goes for a moderate run (6 mph) for 45 minutes.
- Body Weight: 160 lbs ≈ 72.57 kg
- Exercise Type (Running): METs = 8.0
- Duration: 45 minutes
Using the formula:
Calories Burned = (8.0 × 72.57 × 45) / 200
Calories Burned = (26125.2) / 200
Calories Burned ≈ 130.63 calories
This example shows that a 160 lb person running for 45 minutes at a moderate pace would burn approximately 130.63 calories.
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an estimate. Actual calorie expenditure can vary based on individual metabolism, fitness level, environmental factors, and the exact intensity of the exercise. It's a useful tool for general guidance but should not be considered a precise medical measurement.
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function calculateCalories() {
var bodyWeightLbs = parseFloat(document.getElementById("bodyWeight").value);
var exerciseMETs = parseFloat(document.getElementById("exerciseType").value);
var durationMinutes = parseFloat(document.getElementById("durationMinutes").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(bodyWeightLbs) || bodyWeightLbs <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid body weight (e.g., 150).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(durationMinutes) || durationMinutes <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid duration in minutes (e.g., 30).";
return;
}
// exerciseMETs is from a select, so it should always be a valid number if an option is selected.
// However, a check for positive value is still good practice.
if (isNaN(exerciseMETs) || exerciseMETs <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please select a valid exercise type.";
return;
}
// Convert body weight from lbs to kg
var bodyWeightKg = bodyWeightLbs * 0.453592;
// Formula: Calories Burned = (METs * Weight in kg * Duration in minutes) / 200
var caloriesBurned = (exerciseMETs * bodyWeightKg * durationMinutes) / 200;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "
Estimated Calories Burned: " + caloriesBurned.toFixed(2) + " calories";
}