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How Many Calories Does Exercise Burn?
Formula
The number of calories burned during exercise depends on the activity's intensity (measured in METs), your body weight, and duration. MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) represents the energy cost of an activity relative to rest.
A MET of 1 equals resting metabolism. Walking is about 3.5 METs, running 8-12 METs, and swimming 6-8 METs. Heavier individuals burn more calories for the same activity and duration.
Common use cases:
- Tracking exercise calorie expenditure
- Balancing calorie intake with activity
- Comparing calorie burn across activities
Frequently Asked Questions
Maria Gonzalez
Registered Dietitian, RD, MPH
Maria is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's in Public Health. She focuses on evidence-based nutrition assessment tools including BMI, calorie calculations, and body composition analysis.
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