How many calories do you burn while having sex?
Is the missionary worth Nordic walking? Certainly in terms of pleasure (with an advantage for the former, let's be honest), but not in terms of energy expenditure. If you were counting on hugs to replace your Body Pump class, you failed. Sex will do you no good for your bikini body.
In 2013, researchers at the University of Montreal (Canada) measured the caloric expenditure linked to sexual activity in 21 heterosexual couples aged 18 to 35. They then compared this expenditure to that of a 30-minute jog at a moderate pace. Men burned an average of 276 calories in a half-hour treadmill run (9.2 calories per minute), and women 213 calories. During a 25-minute sexual intercourse, the expenditure was 101 calories (4.2 calories per minute) for men and 69 calories for women. “This corresponds to two to three times the resting metabolism, that is to say what we spend without doing anything”, indicates Maxime Saint-Onge, doctor of physical activity sciences in Montreal (Canada) .
“These measurements are not very precise because they do not take into account oxygen consumption or the orientation of the body which affects blood flow and therefore heart rate. There are other studies showing that the expense is lower than that found by the Montreal study”, assures the professional. After having studied the various scientific conclusions on the subject, the specialist affirms that there is nevertheless a consensus: sex is not a very energy-intensive activity.
The equivalent of a game of darts
However, position, pace, range of motion, our weight and that of the partner, can make a difference. “In the andromache position, where the man is below the woman, calorie expenditure for the latter can double as much as the woman shifts her weight. Certainly over a short distance, but still more than as a missionary,” says Maxime Saint-Onge.
Even if you go from two to four calories expended per minute by lifting your legs a little more, we are far from the calories expended in swimming or running. “Sex will be compared more to a game of darts or to a household chore like dusting,” underlines the specialist in physical activity. A round of darts that cuts you the equivalent of an apple's calories...two if you're at your best. Sex is therefore a bit like billiards: a fun table sport, accessible to everyone, whatever their physical condition.
Fortunately. If we came close to having a heart attack with each coitus, there would be little left of humanity. “For the survival of the species, sex must be energy efficient. The shorter it is and the lower the energy cost, the more effective it is for the species,” explains Maxime Saint-Onge.
