The Calories Burned By Driving A Car Calculator is designed to estimate how many calories you burn while driving a car under different conditions. While driving may seem like a mostly sedentary activity, it does require energy, especially during more stressful or demanding conditions like city traffic or long commutes. By using this calculator, you can gain insights into how much energy you are expending while behind the wheel.
Understanding how many calories you burn while driving can contribute to your overall understanding of daily calorie expenditure, even during low-intensity activities.
Formula
The formula used to calculate the number of calories burned while driving is as follows:
Calories Burned = MET Value × Weight in Kilograms × Duration in Hours
Where:
- MET Value is the metabolic equivalent of a task, which represents the energy cost of the activity. Driving has different MET values depending on the intensity of the driving conditions.
- Weight is your body weight in kilograms.
- Duration is the time spent driving in hours.
Different driving intensities have different MET values:
- Casual driving (light, non-stressful driving): MET = 1.5
- Moderate driving (city driving with stop-and-go traffic): MET = 2.0
- Stressful driving (driving in heavy traffic or under stressful conditions): MET = 2.5
Common Terms and Helpful Table
The following table provides a quick reference for the MET values associated with various types of driving:
| Driving Activity | MET Value |
|---|---|
| Casual driving (light) | 1.5 |
| Moderate driving (city) | 2.0 |
| Stressful driving (heavy traffic) | 2.5 |
This allows you to estimate calorie burn based on the type of driving you're doing and helps you track energy expenditure more accurately throughout the day.
Example Calculation
Let’s go through an example to see how the Calories Burned By Driving A Car Calculator works.
Scenario: A 70 kg person spends 1.5 hours driving in moderate city traffic. How many calories does this person burn?
Step 1: Use the formula Calories Burned = MET Value × Weight in Kilograms × Duration in Hours
- MET Value for moderate driving = 2.0
- Weight = 70 kg
- Duration = 1.5 hours
Step 2: Plug the values into the formula:
Calories Burned = 2.0 × 70 × 1.5
Calories Burned = 210 kcal
Thus, the person burns approximately 210 calories while driving for 1.5 hours in moderate traffic conditions.
Most Common FAQs
The number of calories burned depends on your weight and the type of driving you’re doing. For example, a 70 kg person would burn about:
Casual driving (light): 105 calories per hour (MET = 1.5).
Moderate driving (city traffic): 140 calories per hour (MET = 2.0).
Stressful driving (heavy traffic): 175 calories per hour (MET = 2.5).
Yes, stressful driving burns more calories because your body exerts more energy, both mentally and physically, when you are under stress, making decisions, and reacting to traffic conditions. The MET value for stressful driving is 2.5, compared to 1.5 for casual driving.
While driving doesn't burn as many calories as physical exercise, it still contributes to your overall daily energy expenditure, especially if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Tracking these small calorie burns can give you a better understanding of your total daily energy expenditure.