Inaccurate Calorie Information

[fiyin.a]

I didn’t wear my watch since I woke up and when I put it on before I headed out, it says I already burnt 1300 calories. Mind you my daily goal is 500 so how’s my watch recording all this activity when I’m not even wearing it 

[DavidFitbit]

Hi @fiyin.a, thanks for stopping by, I hope you're doing well.

Let me explain how your Fitbit calculates your Calorie burn.

Your Charge 6 combines your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and your activity data to estimate your calories burned. Heart-rate data is also included, especially to estimate calories burned during exercise. The number you see on your Fitbit device is your total calories burned for the day.

Your BMR is based on the physical data you entered in to your Fitbit account (height, weight, sex, and age) and accounts for at least half the calories you burn in a day. Because your body burns calories even if you’re asleep or not moving, you see calories burned on your device when you wake up and will notice this number increase throughout the day. For reference see How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity?

[fiyin.a]

You’re not getting my point. If I don’t wear my watch for 24 hours, my fitbit still records calories burnt! How? It can’t track my heart rate when i’m not wearing it so how is it coming up with these inaccurate numbers. I do not sleep with it on, but when I wake up, the calories burnt is insanely high.. Even I know I’m not burning that much calories. Please advise 

[DavidFitbit]

Hi @fiyin.a, thank you for your response.

I understand your point, Your basal metabolic rate is estimated based on the physical data. Weight, sex, and age are the parameters the app uses to estimate your basal metabolic rate. The basal metabolic rate will be counted in your total calorie burn even if you are not wearing your device.

What is true is that heart rate and activity won't be measured if you are not wearing your device. So they won't be included.

If your Calorie burn is higher than expected at the end of the day, check the weight and age that were entered in the Fitbit app and edit accordingly. If those are correct, let me know so i can further investigate.