How Sex Can Help You Burn Calories? Research and Health Benefits

When it comes to calorie burning, engaging in sexual activities can be a surprising workout. Although not typically top of mind, sex can be a form of exercise that connects us to our bodies and burns calories during sex. In this article, we’ll explore the calorie-burning benefits of sex, compare it to other forms of exercise, and discuss how different factors like intensity and body weight can impact calorie burn.

Key Takeaways:

• A study reveals that sex burn calories around three to four per minute.
• Increase calorie burn during sex by taking an active role and prolonging its duration.
• Working out before sex boosts arousal and leads to more calories being burned.

How Many Calories Do You Burn During Sex?

Research on the calorie-burning benefits of sex is limited, but studies on younger adults suggest that sex can be considered a form of physical activity equivalent to climbing two flights of stairs or walking briskly. In one study, it was estimated that men burn an average of 101 calories (4.2 calories per minute) during sex, while women burn about 69 calories (3.1 calories per minute).

To put this into perspective, a 160-pound person burns approximately 124 calories during sex jogging for 10 minutes, which averages to about 12.4 calories per minute. This suggests that while sex can be a moderate form of exercise, it may not match the cardiovascular and calorie-burning benefits of more intense activities like running or cycling.

Important Note: Engaging in sexual activities can serve as a surprising workout for calorie burning. While not the first thought for exercise, sex does offer a way to connect with our bodies and expend energy. This article emphasizes the caloric benefits of sexual activities, comparing it to conventional forms of exercise, and elaborates on how intensity, body weight, and other factors influence calorie consumption.

Factors Affecting Calorie Burn

The number of calories burn during sex can vary based on factors like the intensity of the activity, body weight, and the duration of the session. Generally, the person taking a more active role burns more calories. For example, women tend to burn more calories when they are on top.

Men typically burn more calories during sex than women due to differences in muscle mass and body composition. Muscle burns more calories at rest and during exercise compared to fat, so individuals with more muscle mass tend to burn more calories overall.

Sex Positions and Calorie Burn

Certain sex positions require more muscular strength and endurance, which can contribute to higher calorie burn. Positions like the Standing 69, Aerial Dancer, Arm Hang, and Squatting Cowgirl are examples of positions that may require more physical effort and thus burn more calories.

While specific research on the calorie burn of different sex positions is limited, it’s safe to say that more physically demanding positions can contribute to a higher calorie burn.

Sex benefits include:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Enhancing mood and self-confidence
• Elevating libido or sex drive
• Improving sleep quality
• Lowering blood pressure
• Strengthening immunity
• Alleviating pain
• Lowering the risk of prostate cancer in men
• Strengthening women’s pelvic floor muscles

Additional Ways to Burn Calories

Engaging in activities like dancing or giving massages can also contribute to calorie burn and enhance the overall experience. For example, a 160-pound person can burn approximately 145 calories giving a 30-minute massage. Dancing for 30 minutes can burn about 100 calories for a 140-pound person.

Quick Tip:

Remember that sex, while a form of physical activity, typically doesn’t match the intensity of more vigorous exercises like running. However, it still contributes to overall health through stress reduction, mood boosts, and other benefits. Engaging in different positions and making sex last longer can optimize calorie burn.

TD;LR: Summary

Research suggests that while sex does burn calories and functions as a moderate form of physical activity, it might not offer the same calorie-burning intensity as vigorous exercises like jogging. 

During sex, men typically burn around 101 calories, and women burn about 69 calories, resembling the exertion of climbing two flights of stairs or walking briskly. 

The calorie burn during sex varies depending on several factors, including the activity’s intensity, the individuals’ body weight, their role during the act, and the session’s duration. 

More active roles and physically demanding positions tend to increase calorie burn. However, sex may not replace the cardiovascular benefits of more intense physical activities.

Resources

• ACE tools & calculators. (n.d.).
  https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/tools-calculators/physical-activity-calorie-counter/
• Corty EW, et al. (2008). Canadian and American sex therapists’ perceptions of normal and abnormal ejaculatory latencies: how long should intercourse last?
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18331255/
• Frappier J, et al. (2013). Energy expenditure during sexual activity in young healthy couples.
  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0079342
• Hall SA, et al. (2011). Sexual activity, erectile dysfunction, and incident cardiovascular events.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824175
• Lastella M, et al. (2019). Sex and sleep.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6409294
• Waldinge, MD, et al. (2005). A multinational population survey of intravaginal ejaculation latency time.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16422843
• Why is physical activity important? (2020).
  https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html