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FAQ: Active vs Total Calories in FITIV (iOS): What’s the Difference?

Updated

Active and Total calories represent two different types of energy your body burns throughout the day. This article explains the difference between Active Calories and Total Calories in FITIV on iOS, how Apple Health calculates them, and how they appear in your workout reports and daily activity metrics.

Your body is always at work, even when you’re resting. It needs energy for basic functions such as breathing, digesting, and thinking. This energy requirement, measured in calories, is known as your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

What are ACTIVE Calories?

Active Calories are the calories you burn through movement and exercise.

Examples include:

  • Running

  • Walking

  • Cycling

  • Strength training

  • Daily activity that raises your heart rate

These calories represent the extra energy your body uses when you are active.

And TOTAL Calories?

Total Calories represent all calories burned during the day.

This includes:

  • Active Calories from exercise and movement

  • Resting Calories your body burns to maintain basic functions like breathing and circulation

Resting calories are also known as Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

Why Are Total Calories Higher Than Active Calories?

Total Calories always include both resting energy and activity energy.

Example:

  • Resting Calories: 1,800

  • Active Calories: 400

Total Calories = 2,200

How are These Calories Tracked and Reported?

The reporting of these calorie types varies by device:

  • iPhone Apps: Most apps, when paired with a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, report TOTAL calories (ACTIVE + RESTING) based on a formula that considers your weight, age, gender, and average heart rate (AVG HR).
  • Apple Watch: Calculation methods differ significantly. The Watch uses personal information you’ve entered in the Apple Watch utility app (black icon with sideways watch) to estimate calorie burn.

Verifying Your Settings:

To ensure your Apple Watch accurately calculates calorie burn, check your personal information settings:

  1. Open the Apple Watch utility app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the "My Watch" tab.
  3. Locate your personal info under the HEALTH section to verify or update it..

Understanding the difference between Active and Total calories helps you track your fitness progress more accurately and better understand how your workouts affect your overall calorie expenditure. This insight can help you make more informed decisions about your exercise and nutrition habits.

- The FITIV Support Team

 

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