Hey there @MamaLide, thanks for stopping by! Fitbit devices calculate active minutes using metabolic equivalents (METs). METs help measure the energy expenditure of various activities. Because they do so in a comparable way among persons of different weights, METs are widely used as indicators for exercise intensity. For example, a MET of 1 indicates a body at rest. Fitbit devices estimate your MET value in any given minute by calculating the intensity of your activity.
You earn active minutes for activities at or above about 3 METs. Minutes are only awarded after 10 minutes of continuous moderate-to-intense activity. You can view the CDC’s recommendations on the CDC website.
If the same activity gives you active minutes one day and fewer active minutes the next day, remember that the intensity of exercise is key. Often what seems like the exact same amount of effort over the same distance in fact differs slightly enough to change your active minutes total.
Essentially active minutes are a measurement of time spent doing activity that is more intense than regular walking. If you want more information on how metabolic equivalents (METs) are calculated, I recommend the wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_equivalent.
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