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 provides a practical way to quantify exercise benefits.

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 (activity intensity)
• \( Weight \) — Body weight in kilograms

Explanation: The equation accounts for how long, how intense, and how much body mass is involved in the activity.

3. Importance of MET Values

Details: MET values represent exercise intensity. For stationary biking, typical MET ranges are:

• 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 (can be decimal), appropriate MET value for your intensity, and current weight in kg. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a MET value?
A: MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) is a ratio of working metabolic rate to resting metabolic rate. 1 MET = energy cost of sitting quietly.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a reasonable estimate (±10-20%) for most people, but individual metabolism varies based on fitness level, body composition, and other factors.

Q3: Should I include warm-up/cool-down time?
A: Only include the time spent at the target intensity level for most accurate results.

Q4: Does this account for afterburn effect?
A: No, the equation only calculates calories burned during the activity. Higher intensity exercise may continue burning calories afterward.

Q5: How does weight affect calories burned?
A: Heavier individuals burn more calories for the same activity because they're moving more mass against gravity.