How to Calculate Calories Burned
What is Calories Burned?
The calories burned calculator uses MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) values to estimate energy expenditure during exercise. MET is the ratio of exercise intensity to resting metabolic rate — a MET of 7 means you burn 7 times more calories than at rest.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Calories burned = MET × weight (kg) × time (hours)
- 2MET values are standardized across activities by the Compendium of Physical Activities
- 3Heavier people burn more calories for the same activity because they carry more mass
- 4Intensity matters: running at 8 mph (MET 13.5) burns 70% more than running at 5 mph (MET 8.3)
Worked Examples
Input
70 kg person, 30 min running at 6 mph (MET 9.8)
Result
343 kcal
9.8 × 70 × 0.5
Input
90 kg person, 60 min walking briskly (MET 4.3)
Result
387 kcal
4.3 × 90 × 1.0
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