In studies on healthy men and women, it’s estimated that sex expends an average of 101 calories (4.2 calories per minute) in men and 69 calories (3.1 calories per minute) in women.īy comparison, a 160-pound person burns about 124 calories jogging for 10 minutes, burning an average of 12.4 calories per minute, according to the American Council on Exercise. In those studies, sex is considered a form of physical activity that scientists say is equivalent to climbing two flights of stairs or walking briskly. While there isn't much research on the calorie-burning benefits of sex, there are small studies that focus on younger adults. The energy expenditure (otherwise known as calories burned) of sex can be estimated by calculating the activity's intensity, the body weight of the person, and the time spent. What Happens When You Get Physical in the Bedroom Now that we’ve gotten your attention, here’s what experts have to say about the calories you burn while engaging in sexual activities. Karp.Īnd just as the intensity of exercise determines the number of calories used, the same goes for sex - as in, if your heart rate goes up when you’re fooling around, that’s a good start! “ Research has shown that both exercise and sex are good for our health - and the more of each we get, the better,” says Dr. For starters, both sex and exercise connect us to our bodies, says Jason Karp, PhD, a visiting professor of exercise science at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and the author of Sexercise: Exercising Your Way to Better Sex. But in this world of multitasking, it’s nice to know that while you’re connecting with your partner or playmate, you’re also moving your body and using up calories.Īlthough it might seem like a stretch to think of sex as a form of exercise, the two have more in common than you might think. Let’s be real - for most of us, calorie burning isn’t top of mind when we’re about to get busy in the bedroom.