Kcal Burned Calculator

Kcal Burned Calculator

kg lbs

Sleeping Sitting, light activity (e.g., reading, writing) Standing, light activity (e.g., cooking, light office work) Walking, slow (2.0 mph) Walking, brisk (3.5 mph) Jogging (5 mph) Running (7 mph) Cycling, moderate (10-12 mph) Cycling, vigorous (16-19 mph) Swimming, moderate pace Weightlifting, general Aerobics, general Dancing, moderate Gardening, general Hiking Basketball, game Soccer, general

function calculateKcalBurned() { var weightInput = document.getElementById("weight").value; var weightUnit = document.getElementById("weightUnit").value; var activityType = document.getElementById("activityType").value; var durationInput = document.getElementById("duration").value; var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result"); var weight = parseFloat(weightInput); var metValue = parseFloat(activityType); var durationMinutes = parseFloat(durationInput); if (isNaN(weight) || isNaN(metValue) || isNaN(durationMinutes) || weight <= 0 || durationMinutes <= 0) { resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#f8d7da'; resultDiv.style.borderColor = '#f5c6cb'; resultDiv.style.color = '#721c24'; resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for weight and duration."; return; } // Convert weight to kg if input was in lbs if (weightUnit === "lbs") { weight = weight * 0.453592; // 1 lb = 0.453592 kg } // Formula: Kcal = METs * Weight (kg) * Duration (hours) var durationHours = durationMinutes / 60; var kcalBurned = metValue * weight * durationHours; resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#e9f7ef'; resultDiv.style.borderColor = '#d4edda'; resultDiv.style.color = '#155724'; resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Kcal Burned: " + kcalBurned.toFixed(2) + " kcal"; }

Understanding Kcal Burned

The number of kilocalories (kcal) your body burns, often simply referred to as "calories," is a measure of the energy your body expends. This energy is used for everything from basic bodily functions like breathing and maintaining body temperature (Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR) to digesting food and performing physical activities.

Factors Influencing Kcal Burned

Several key factors determine how many kilocalories you burn during an activity:

• Body Weight: Heavier individuals generally burn more calories for the same activity because their bodies require more energy to move a larger mass.
• Activity Type and Intensity: Different activities have different metabolic demands. High-intensity activities like running or vigorous cycling burn significantly more calories per minute than low-intensity activities like walking or sitting.
• Duration: The longer you perform an activity, the more calories you will burn.
• Metabolic Rate: Individual metabolic rates can vary due to age, gender, genetics, and muscle mass. People with more muscle mass tend to have a higher resting metabolic rate.

What are METs?

MET stands for Metabolic Equivalent of Task. It's a physiological measure expressing the energy cost of physical activities. One MET is defined as the energy expenditure of sitting quietly, which is roughly 1 kcal per kilogram of body weight per hour. For example, an activity with a MET value of 4 means you are expending four times the energy you would sitting quietly.

Using MET values allows for a standardized way to estimate calorie expenditure across different activities and individuals. The formula used in this calculator is:

Kcal Burned = METs × Weight (kg) × Duration (hours)

How to Use the Kcal Burned Calculator

Our calculator provides an estimate of the kilocalories you burn during various activities. Here's how to use it:

1. Enter Your Weight: Input your current body weight. You can choose between kilograms (kg) or pounds (lbs). The calculator will convert lbs to kg internally for the calculation.
2. Select Activity Type: Choose the activity you performed from the dropdown list. Each activity has an associated MET value.
3. Enter Duration: Input the total time, in minutes, that you performed the selected activity.
4. Calculate: Click the "Calculate Kcal Burned" button to see your estimated energy expenditure.

Example Calculation:

Let's say a person weighs 70 kg and goes for a brisk walk (3.5 mph) for 45 minutes.

• Weight = 70 kg
• Activity (Brisk Walk) METs = 4.3
• Duration = 45 minutes = 0.75 hours (45 / 60)

Using the formula:

Kcal Burned = 4.3 × 70 kg × 0.75 hours = 225.75 kcal

This means the person would burn approximately 225.75 kilocalories during their 45-minute brisk walk.

Important Considerations:

It's important to remember that this calculator provides an estimate. Actual calorie expenditure can vary based on individual fitness levels, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, terrain), and the exact intensity of the activity. For precise measurements, specialized equipment like metabolic carts or advanced fitness trackers are often used.