Federal Office for National Economic Supply FONES
Federal Office for National Economic Suppy FONES
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Energy consumption and body weight
How much energy does our body need?
Calculate the daily energy consumption of your body:
The human body has a basic energy consumption of about 4 kJ per kilogram of body weight and daily hour, regardless of whether you are at work or asleep. In order to calculate your basic energy consumption, you have to multiply your body weight by 4 and thereafter by 24 (for the hours of the day).
The amount of energy your body burns is largely determined by your professional activity, add therefore the value below which is relevant to you, in order to calculate your basic energy consumption.
Daily energy consumption according to professional activity *:
Activity | Consumption |
Seated work (office staff, pupil /student) | 1000 - 2000 kJ |
Light work (i.e. sales person, hairdresser) | 2000 - 4000 kJ |
Medium heavy work (i.e. carpenter, baker, housewife) | 4000 - 6000 kJ |
Heavy work (i.e. bricklayer, dancer) | 6000 - 8000 kJ |
Very heavy work (top athlete) | over 8000 kJ |
Even in your spear time you consume energy, you can calculate your average spare time energy consumption by adding the relevant value below to your basic and professional activity energy consumption.
Energy consumption (per hour) for various leisure activities *:
Jogging (9 km/h) | 2400 kJ |
Dancing | 1500 kJ |
Swimming (20 m/min) | 1200 kJ |
Cycling (15 km/h) | 1200 kJ |
Walking | 600 kJ |
Writing | 120 kJ |
Watching television | 20 kJ |
* Approximate value: 1 kcl = 4.18 kJ
The result represents your total energy consumption per day. The measure used hereby is the Kilo-Joule (kJ), in order to convert your result into the wider known kilo-calorie (kcal), you have to divide your result by 4 (exact conversion: 1 kcal = 4.18 kJ).
Not too much and not too little
Today the Body-Mass-Index (BMI) is recognised as a standard to measure body weight.
A high BMI represents for all age groups and sexes a higher risk of illness.
The normal value for an adult is: 19 – 24 kg/m2.
Calculation and formula of the BMI:
The Body-Mass-Index is calculated according to height and weight, see the following formula: weight in kilos divided by height (m)2.
Formula: BMI (kg/m2) = weight (kg) / height (m) 2
Calculation example: weight 70 kilos, height 1.75 meters
Calculation: 1.75 x 1.75 = 3.0625; 70 divided by 3.0625 = 22.9 (round figure).
The BMI will be 23.
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