GoBe U: Why Can Calorie Burn During Walking Be Lower Than Expected?

If the calorie burn shown by GoBe U during walking or other activities is lower than the values you see in other fitness trackers or general calorie-burn estimates, this does not necessarily mean that GoBe is underestimating your calorie burn.

GoBe estimates calorie burn individually based on how your body responds to physical activity.

Why Can the Same Activity Burn Different Amounts of Calories?

The amount of energy used during the same activity can vary from person to person.

For example, walking at a comfortable pace may be a relatively light activity for a trained person and cause only a small increase in heart rate. For someone else, walking at the same pace may place a greater demand on the body.

This means that the same 30 or 60 minutes of walking will not necessarily result in the same calorie burn for everyone.

How Does GoBe Calculate Calorie Burn?

GoBe estimates calorie burn during physical activity based primarily on your heart rate and your body’s response to the activity, rather than assigning a standard calorie value to a particular type of activity.

For example, if your heart rate remains relatively low while walking, GoBe may show a lower calorie burn than a general estimate for an hour of walking.

This approach takes your individual response to physical activity into account instead of applying the same standard value to everyone.

Why Might Other Apps Show More Calories Burned?

Some fitness apps and online calculators estimate calorie burn using general parameters such as activity type and duration, body weight, or average values for a particular activity.

Different devices and apps may also account for basal metabolism (BMR) differently.

GoBe calculates your BMR separately and does not add it to the calorie burn for a specific activity. As a result, directly comparing the calorie burn shown for a walk with another device or app may show a noticeable difference.

Does a Low Value Mean GoBe Is Calculating It Incorrectly?

Not necessarily. If a particular activity places relatively little demand on your body and your heart rate remains low, the estimated calorie burn may also be lower.

When reviewing your GoBe data, it is therefore more useful to consider your individual readings and trends rather than comparing them with a general estimate of how many calories you “should” burn during an hour of walking.

If your calorie burn appears unusually low even during intense physical activity, or you notice a sudden change from your usual readings, please let us know. We’ll be happy to help review your data.