Calorie Calculation

[PadgettBrieffe]

I just set up my Fitbit Charge 5 (1.5 hrs ago). It already says I have burned nearly 1,000 calories today AND it shows I have burned 1,750 a day, each day, thru all of 2022. Is this normal? I would expect no data prior to today and not many calories burned yet today.

Thank you

[LZeeW]

Hello @PadgettBrieffe and welcome to the Community.  This is a known quirk of the Fitbit app.  Those are your BMR calories.  Even though you just set up your Charge 5, it's including your BMR calories starting from midnight.  Fitbit seems to be unwilling or unable to fix this quirk.

[PadgettBrieffe]

Thank you. Does this basically mean I should not pay attention to calories burned...at all? If so, a bummer.

Thanks gain for your quick response.

[t.parker]

@PadgettBrieffe ignore any data from before you got your Fitbit. However, the BMR calories on a day you set the device up are valid. The calorie cycle is 24 hours. Regardless of what time you set up your device you did burn some BMR calories since midnight until then. That's why I don't think it's a quirk. What's missing is a separation between resting and active calories that could make it easier to understand what is going on. It's not uncommon that new users come here to ask why they see calories burned after setting up a device or right after waking up. Fitbit for some reason doesn't want to make it clear.

@LZeeW I would like to see it done similar to what Garmin does:

One thing is that breakdown (I really think that it's a "low hanging fruit" to implement in Fitbit ecosystem) but another is that "Help" button which explains in details what is what and why. Something similar exists in the Suunto app as well and it isn't uncommon feature.

[LZeeW]

@PadgettBrieffe   No, not at all.  Everything will be fine starting tomorrow.  Many users ask for a daily breakdown of BMR and activity calories.  Fitbit used to do this as a Premium feature, but doesn't do it anymore.  You can do the math, now that you know you burn 1750 calories/day as your BMR calories.  Your age and weight are used in the BMR equation.  Small weight changes don't make a big difference.

[PadgettBrieffe]

Thank you. Makes sense.

[PadgettBrieffe]

Thank you again.