"How many calories did that workout burn?" has a real formula behind it, built on a single standardized number per activity: MET.
Met calculator exercise, what the number means
MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) measures how much energy an activity uses relative to sitting still — a MET of 1 is resting, a MET of 8 means roughly 8 times the resting energy use. Slow walking sits around 2.8 MET; brisk walking around 3.8; running at 8 km/h around 8.3.
Calories burned walking calculator, a real example
The formula is calories = MET × weight (kg) × hours. For an 80 kg person walking slowly for 30 minutes, that's 2.8 × 80 × 0.5 = 112 calories.
Calories burned running calculator, and why intensity matters more than duration alone
Switch to running at 8 km/h for the same 30 minutes, and the MET jumps to 8.3 — pushing the estimate to 332 calories, nearly three times higher for the same time spent. This calculator covers 12 common activities so you can compare intensity levels directly.
