Calories burned ...

mathie

Saw this interesting article today on calroies burned for those who use fitness trackers.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/24/fitness-trackers-out-of-step-when-measuring-calories-research-shows

"errors on energy expenditure were far greater, ranging from the lowest at 27.4% for the FitBit Surge to the highest error of 92.6% for the PulseOn device. Data on energy expenditure was not available for the Samsung device.

The errors in energy expenditure, said Ashley, could be down to a range of factors including problems with the devices’ algorithms or poor data input by users. Errors were found to vary due to factors including sex and mode of exercise.

The team say the findings have ramifications for those relying on their fitness trackers as a measure of their health.

“When you consider that people are using these estimates to essentially make lifestyle decisions like what they are going to eat for lunch then I think that is something that is worth knowing and people should know to take these estimates with more than a pinch of salt,” said Ashley.

Blacktie.

I found my fitbit pretty good for calorie expenditure with typical days but when doing something a bit different like a long walk or something like that it would over estimate alright.

Mellor

I've always had an idea my fitbit over shot calories per day. It would be interesting to know by how much it went over, and even handier if they allowed us to scale it by a user inputted factor.

I think of all these features that would be a doddle to add all the time

“When you consider that people are using these estimates to essentially make lifestyle decisions like what they are going to eat for lunch then I think that is something that is worth knowing and people should know to take these estimates with more than a pinch of salt,” said Ashley.

People shouldn't be using it as a absolute measure of calories burned. It's more useful as a relative measurment.

Ie, if mine says I burn 2800 most days, then one active day it says I burned 3200.
Those numbers might not be perfectly accurate, but chances are I burned around 300-400 more on high day, what ever the true numbers are.

Macy0161

Noticed my old Garmin (310xt), which I still use on the bike, and the 920xt were giving over 300 calories difference on today's spin. Old one being higher. Both paired with the same hrm, with the same details. I assume the newer one has better algorithms.

For bike, they say the best measure is a power meter, but I find heart rate gives similar to my power output when I do train with power.

johnnyskeleton

Do people look at what a fitbit says they burn and then add it to their estimated maintenance calories?

As in, lets say my BMR is 1600, maintenance calories for "moderately active" is 2,100, fitbit says I burn 400 calories in steps in a day and I run 5km at 350 calories. Do I then calculate:

2,100 + 400 + 350 and get 2,850 calories per day, whereas in reality it is more like 1600 + 400 + 350 + a few extra calories for non walking related movements?

If so, then I can see how a fitbit can give people a false reading on what their daily calorie intake should be.

livedadream

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Do people look at what a fitbit says they burn and then add it to their estimated maintenance calories?

As in, lets say my BMR is 1600, maintenance calories for "moderately active" is 2,100, fitbit says I burn 400 calories in steps in a day and I run 5km at 350 calories. Do I then calculate:

2,100 + 400 + 350 and get 2,850 calories per day, whereas in reality it is more like 1600 + 400 + 350 + a few extra calories for non walking related movements?

If so, then I can see how a fitbit can give people a false reading on what their daily calorie intake should be.

it can, i dont add it, had to remove it from updating my fitnesspal and i didnt realise for ages it was auto inputting their calories burn.

Mellor

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Do people look at what a fitbit says they burn and then add it to their estimated maintenance calories?

As in, lets say my BMR is 1600, maintenance calories for "moderately active" is 2,100, fitbit says I burn 400 calories in steps in a day and I run 5km at 350 calories. Do I then calculate:

2,100 + 400 + 350 and get 2,850 calories per day, whereas in reality it is more like 1600 + 400 + 350 + a few extra calories for non walking related movements?

If so, then I can see how a fitbit can give people a false reading on what their daily calorie intake should be.

The moderately active multiplier has already added on extra calories to account for your activity. You dont need to add them on again.