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Does driving a car burn more calories than sitting?
I recently took a new job that requires me to spend a good chunk of my day driving, which means I’m not getting in much movement. I’m pretty health-conscious and concerned about gaining weight. Will driving burn more calories than just sitting?
Andrea Barrett · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question—and your concern is definitely valid. Sitting behind the wheel of a car for hours on end can be tiring, but there’s some evidence suggesting that you can drive a car and shed weight. While it may not be anything compared to what bicycling, lifting weights, or swimming burns, your metabolism is still working.
But the simple answer is no—driving a car doesn’t burn significantly more calories than sitting.
Depending on what you’re driving, the energy expenditure can differ. For one hour of driving, here’s what you’re looking at for different motor vehicles:
- Car — 87 calories
- Truck — 167 calories
- Scooter or motorbike — 234 calories
Not bad, right?
In comparison, sitting burns about 60-130 calories per hour depending on whether you’re male or female, your height, weight, age, and physical activity level.
Regardless of whether you’re driving for one hour or six, it’s important to have proper protection for your car.
Jerry
searches through more than 50 of the top insurance providers to find you the best coverage at the lowest rate. All you have to do is download the app, enter your information, and choose the policy that works for you.MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances
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- Gregory R.
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