1. What is the Calories Burned Equation?

The calories burned equation estimates energy expenditure during physical activity based on duration, intensity (MET value), and body weight. It's particularly useful for tracking exercise on stationary bikes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the calories burned equation:

Where:

• \( Time \) — Duration of activity in hours
• \( MET \) — Metabolic equivalent of task (intensity level)
• \( Weight \) — Body weight in kilograms

Explanation: The equation accounts for how much energy your body uses during exercise based on the activity's intensity and your body weight.

3. Importance of MET Values

Details: MET values represent exercise intensity. For stationary biking:

• Light effort (50 watts): ~3.5 MET
• Moderate effort (100 watts): ~7 MET
• Vigorous effort (150 watts): ~10.5 MET

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter time in hours (e.g., 0.5 for 30 minutes), appropriate MET value for your effort level, weight in kg, and your age. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a reasonable estimate but individual variations in metabolism can affect actual calories burned.

Q2: Does age affect calories burned?
A: While metabolism slows with age, this equation uses weight and intensity as primary factors. Age is included for reference.

Q3: What's the best MET value for stationary biking?
A: It depends on your effort level. Moderate cycling is typically 5-8 MET, vigorous 8-12 MET.

Q4: Should I use kg or pounds?
A: The calculator uses kg. To convert pounds to kg: divide by 2.205.

Q5: How does resistance affect calories burned?
A: Higher resistance increases intensity (MET value) and thus calories burned per minute.