A sit-up is a great bodyweight exercise that gives you a full abdominal and vascular workout. It’s a simple exercise you can do alone in the comfort of your home, or in a group setting at a gym. As a sit-up is such a popular exercise many people wonder how many calories sit-ups actually burn.
An average person, weighing 137 pounds, burns 0.3 calories per sit-up, which means that 100 sit-ups will burn approximately 30 calories.
How Many Calories Do Sit-Ups Burn Per Minute?
An average person burns 0.3 calories per sit-up and the average person can do 30 sit-ups per minute, which means an average person burns 9 calories per minute doing sit-ups.
How Many Calories Do Sit-Ups Burn Per Hour?
An average person burns 0.3 calories per sit-up and the average person can do 1800 sit-ups per hour, which means an average person burns 540 calories per hour doing sit-ups.
How Many Calories Do Sit-Ups Burn for The Average American?
Our earlier calculations assume that the average person weighs 137 pounds, which is the average weight of an adult internationally. The average weight of an American citizen however is 181 pounds.
The average American citizen, weighing 181 pounds, will burn 0.36 calories per sit-up. Assuming that person can do 30 sit-ups per minute, that person will burn 11 calories per minute and 660 calories per hour.
*Note: These are all estimations and will differ per person.
How many calories do sit-ups burn in a 10-minute session?
In a 10-minute session of moderate sit-ups, you could burn around 30–50 calories, depending on your body weight and how intensely you’re performing the exercise.
Does the number of calories burned by sit-ups depend on body weight?
Yes, the number of calories burned during sit-ups is directly influenced by your body weight. Heavier individuals tend to burn more calories than lighter individuals, as their bodies require more energy for the same activity.
How does the intensity of sit-ups affect the calories burned?
The intensity of your sit-ups plays a big role in calorie expenditure. Doing faster, more controlled sit-ups or incorporating variations like weighted sit-ups can significantly increase the number of calories you burn.
Can doing sit-ups help with weight loss?
While sit-ups alone won’t burn a significant amount of calories for weight loss, they can contribute to your overall calorie expenditure when combined with other exercises and a healthy diet.
How many sit-ups should I do to see visible results?
To see noticeable results in your core muscles, aim for around 20–30 sit-ups per set, and increase the number of sets as your endurance improves. Remember, visible results also depend on your overall body fat percentage.
How do sit-ups compare to other exercises in terms of calorie burn?
Sit-ups burn fewer calories compared to higher-intensity exercises like running or cycling. However, they still effectively engage the core muscles and can complement a well-rounded fitness routine.
Can I burn 100 calories just by doing sit-ups?
It’s difficult to burn 100 calories with just sit-ups alone unless you do a large number, around 800–1000 sit-ups, depending on your weight. To burn 100 calories more effectively, combining sit-ups with other exercises is recommended.
Are crunches or sit-ups better for burning calories?
Crunches generally burn fewer calories compared to full sit-ups due to the reduced range of motion. However, both exercises target the core, and their effectiveness depends on the number and intensity of repetitions.
How many sit-ups does it take to burn off one slice of pizza?
One slice of pizza typically contains around 200–300 calories. To burn it off purely with sit-ups, you’d need to do approximately 1600-2000 sit-ups, depending on your weight and the intensity of the exercise.
Also See:
- How Many Calories Do 100 Crunches Burn?
- How Many Calories Do 100 Squats Burn?
- How Many Calories Do 100 Lunges Burn?
- How Many Calories Do 100 Burpees Burn?
- How Many Calories Do 100 Jumping Jacks Burn?
This article was last updated on May 12, 2025 .
