Calories Burned Calculator 🔥

The Science of Calories Burned: The MET Formula

The **Calories Burned Calculator** uses the universally recognized **MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task)** formula to provide an accurate estimate of energy expenditure during physical activity. This calculation is a far more reliable measure than simple time tracking.

The MET Calculation:

The formula uses three primary variables: the activity's MET value, your body weight, and the duration: $$ \text{Calories Burned} = \left(\text{MET} \times \text{Weight (kg)} \times 3.5\right) / 200 \times \text{Duration (minutes)} $$ Where:

• **MET:** The ratio of the working metabolic rate to the resting metabolic rate. A MET of 1.0 is roughly equivalent to the energy expended while sitting quietly.
• **3.5:** A constant representing the amount of oxygen consumed (in $\text{ml/kg/min}$).
• **200:** A constant used to convert the result into calories (based on the rough calculation that 1 liter of $\text{O}_2$ consumed equals 5 calories burned).

Importance of Activity Selection

The accuracy relies heavily on selecting the correct MET value for the intensity of your exercise. For instance, **Running at 6 mph** has a much higher MET value (around 10.0) than **Brisk Walking** (around 4.0), resulting in a significantly different calorie expenditure.