How many calories do you burn while having intercourse

Some people think that a romp in the sheets is an enjoyable (and calorie-burning) form of exercise in itself. But the truth is that the exact number of calories you burn during sex depends on a variety of factors, including your weight and how vigorous your romp is.

Wanna find out just how much fat you’re burning during sex? Here’s what scientists have discovered over the years.

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In 2013, scientists at the University of Montreal attempted to answer this question by asking 21 heterosexual couples to wear SenseWear fitness trackers during their lovemaking. The couples also ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes to compare their sexercise to actual exercise.

The results, which were published in the journal PLOS ONE, concluded that men burn 100 calories during the average sex session, while women burn about 69 calories. (Nice.) The researchers estimated that men burn roughly 4.2 calories per minute during sex, while women burn 3.1 calories.

In total, the number of calories burned during sex was far less than the number of calories men burned during exercise, which was about 276 calories. But while hitting the gym might provide a more intense workout, the researchers concluded that “sexual activity may potentially be considered, at times, as a significant exercise.” 

Plus, the results of the study were based on the average amount of time the couples had sex, which was about 25 minutes — so we can reasonably assume that the longer the session, the more calories can be burned. (Want to find out for yourself? Multiply the number of minutes you have sex by the researchers’ 4.2 calories figure to get the approximate total number of calories you’ve burned.)

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But before you get too excited about that potential calorie burn, another study published in 2013 concluded the opposite: that sex really isn’t much of a workout at all.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the paper aimed to debunk certain weight loss-related myths, such as that sex can burn anywhere between 100 to 300 calories. This time, scientists used 1984 research published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which found that the average bout of sex lasted only six minutes. With this figure, they determined that a 70kg, 30-something man only burns 21 calories during the typical sexual encounter.

In summation, if you’re trying to lose weight and you’re hoping to replace gym time with sex, you may want to stick with your traditional workout routine. But that doesn’t mean intercourse doesn’t have real health benefits.

In addition to improving your mood, sex can also boost your immunity. People who have sex at least once a week have been shown to benefit from higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that protects you from illness, compared to those who didn’t get so lucky.

A healthy sex life can also reduce cancer risk in men. A large study in the British Medical Journal found that men who ejaculated at least 21 times per month were less likely to get prostate cancer than guys who only ejaculated four to seven times per month. 

So yes, unfortunately, a tumble in the sheets doesn’t torch as many calories as you’d likely hoped. But hey, that shouldn’t stop you from having more sex.

This article originally appeared on Mens Health US.

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• One study found that people burn about three to four calories per minute during sex.

• Burn more calories during sex by getting on top and making the sex last longer.

• Exercising before sex can increase arousal and burn additional calories.

• Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.

Sex may feel like a workout sometimes, but just how many calories are you actually burning under the sheets?

Past research has concluded that sex equates to light to moderate exercise. Several more studies since then have been able to determine the average amount of calories burned during sex — and it's much less than going for a run or hitting the gym.

Important: The exact amount of calories sex can burn for you depends on weight, duration of sex, and other factors. Similar to measuring calorie expenditure for any physical activity, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

The good news is sex offers plenty of health benefits beyond calorie loss. That said, here are some insights from the latest research on how many calories you burn during sex.

Research has found that men burn an average of 101 calories during sex, or about 4.2 calories burned per minute. Women burn an average of 69 calories during sex, or about 3.2 per minute.

These results are from a small 2013 study that compared the caloric burn young, healthy heterosexual couples experienced spending 25 minutes of having sex versus running on a treadmill for 30 minutes.

The researchers found that during the average sexual activity session — defined as foreplay, intercourse, and at least one partner's orgasm — men burned 101 calories, and women burned 69.1 calories.

Sex burned significantly less calories than when the same participants exercised on a treadmill — where men burned 9.2 calories per minute and women burned 7.1 calories per minute — more than twice as much as sex.

"There is some kind of energy expenditure [during sex] but it's not that big," says Antony Karelis, PhD, co-author of the study and a professor in the department of exercise science at the University of Quebec, Montreal.

Another 2013 review concluded similar results — a man in his 30s might only burn 21 calories during intercourse if he's having sex for six minutes.

Five to six minutes is about the average duration of sexual intercourse — not including foreplay. And, of course, calorie expenditure is individualized, meaning you may burn slightly more or fewer calories than these study participants.

How to burn more calories during sex

Let's get the obvious out of the way, first: Whoever is on top is probably doing most of the movement and will likely be expending more energy, meaning they will burn more calories.

So, if you're looking to burn a few more calories during sex, take charge and get on top, or have you and your partner take turns so you can both benefit. Breaking a sweat is a good indication that you're putting in work, says Karelis.

You can also make the sex session last longer in hopes of burning more calories, but that's easier said than done.

As for different positions, "it would be incredibly difficult for people to change sex in such a substantial way that it would be equivalent to a workout," says Debby Herbenick, PhD, professor of sexual and reproductive health at the Indiana University School of Public Health and author of "The Coregasm Workout: The Revolutionary Method for Better Sex Through Exercise."

Herbenick adds that "there are endless sex positions, and I recommend that people choose the ones that are pleasurable for them and their partner, not the one that will burn five or 10 more calories."

However, if you're looking to expand your library of sex positions to include those that call for more strength or cardio, you might try standing positions or those that require flexibility, such as the wheelbarrow.

Quick tip: Exercise itself can enhance arousal, according to Herbenick. You can exercise with your partner before sex as some real calorie-burning foreplay, and then focus on simply enjoying sex.

Don't forget about the other benefits of sex

There are numerous health benefits of sex beyond calorie burning.

If you're feeling disappointed that sex doesn't burn as many calories as you'd hoped, consider that a healthy sex life can bring many more physical and mental health benefits.

Sex can help:

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Boost mood and self-confidence

• Increase libido, or sex drive

• Improve sleep

• Lower blood pressure

• Boost immunity

• Relieve pain

• Reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men

• Strengthen pelvic floor muscles in women

Insider's takeaway

Overall, research has found that sex can be equivalent to light to moderate exercise.

One study showed that men burned about 101 calories during sex, or 4.2 calories per minute. Women burned about 69 calories during sex, or 3.1 calories per minute.

To burn more calories during sex, get on top and try lasting longer. It's also a good idea to exercise before sex, as you'll increase arousal and burn far more calories in total.

Read the original article on Insider

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