Calories are a term that’s frequently used by fitness experts. Calories are the amount of energy found in the food we eat. Though calories are important for our wellbeing and metabolism, overconsumption of calories can lead to overweight or obesity and related health problems. At the same time, if you don’t get the required calories, can lead to fatigue and losing too much weight.
Calorie burn refers to the calories you lose during routine daily activities or workouts. Each person burns calories differently. There are certain factors which impact calories burned. Let’s see what they are.
Factors Accelerating Calorie Burn
- Body Weight
The body weight of the person has a lot to do with burning of calories. A person with a higher body mass releases a higher amount of calories when exercising. People with a large body mass have larger internal organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. These organs and their processes need energy and this impacts how much calories the body will burn. So a person who weighs more will burn more calories as they expend more energy when they move, than a person who weighs less. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that burning calories through physical activity along with reducing calorie consumption via food restrictions will result in a “calorie deficit” that results in weight loss. - Muscle Mass
Muscle mass plays an important role in the amount of calorie burned. A person with higher muscle mass burns more calories than a person with lower muscle mass, even if their body weight is the same. The main reason for this is that muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue. While doing exercises, the increase in muscle mass would increase the calories burned. According to fitness experts, cardio and weight training related exercises maximize calorie burn. - Gender
Males have more muscle strength than females. As a result, men release more calories while resting and doing exercise than women. It is estimated that men burn almost 5-10% more calories than women at rest and the percentage would increase gradually while doing workouts. - Age
Everyday Health references a review published in July 2017 in Ageing Research Review which found that after age 30, a person will gradually began to experience loss of muscle mass of almost 3 to 5 percent. The main reason for this could be that the body becomes more resistant to hormones which produce proteins, which is a key factor for muscle mass. This lowers the body’s metabolism of the body. Strength training is recommended for regaining muscle strength. - Change in Fitness Regimen
Some people are fitness freaks, while others don’t pay attention to staying fit. Regular exercise and a healthy diet and lifestyle are important to maintain fitness. Spending more time doing workouts would burn a larger amount of calories, but doing the same exercises for a prolonged period would reduce only a small amount of calories. At the same time, a person doing workouts for the first time would burn a large amount of calories. So changing your workout routine at regular intervals can help you burn more calories. - Level Of Training Intensity
Intensity of exercise also plays an important role in burning calories. For instance, two people may be doing same workouts, but the display board in the fitness center may show different amount of calorie burn. The main reason for this difference is the workout intensity. In simpler words, as intensity in workouts increase, the amount of calories burned also increases. So the amount of calories burned through an exercise may be different for different people.
Factors that influence Calories Needs
Each person requires a specific number of calories for maintaining proper metabolism. The factors which decide the number of calories the body needs are:
- Age
- Gender
- Metabolism
- Hereditary
- Body shape
- Activity level of a person.
Benefits of Burning Calories
Calories give your body the energy it needs, but too many calories by eating too much and not enough exercise can lead to weight gain. Burning calories are important for many reasons:
- Keeps the blood vessels healthy
- Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease
- Protects the body from diseases like diabetes
- Help control diabetes
- Improves mood
- Lowers stress and anxiety
Tips For Reducing Calories
- Exercise regularly and effectively
- Reduce consumption of beverages like coffee and tea
- Don’t overeat, avoid calorie-rich
- Avoid skipping breakfast
- Take a short walk after eating
Calories are important for health, but present a risk when you eat more than the amount your body needs. Physical activity and a well-balanced diet can help you keep calories at a level that is necessary for good health and fitness.
