Women have long complained that men get more out of the bedroom than they do.
And this also appears to apply to the number of calories they burn during sex, research shows.
On average, men burn 101 calories during sex, which is equivalent to a 4-ounce bag of Skinny Pop popcorn.
Women, on the other hand, burn only 69 calories during sex, which is about the same as 10 raw almonds.
2022 research estimates that men burn 4.2 calories per minute while women burn 3.1 calories per minute during sex
For a typical lovemaking session, women burn only about 69 calories during sex — about the same as 10 measly raw almonds
The figures come from a 2022 review of the most recent research, which found that men burn 4.2 calories per minute, compared to 3.1 for women. That’s a difference of about 26 percent.
And those numbers can vary greatly depending on the duration and intensity of intercourse and the different sex positions.
According to Professor Leah Millheiser, a sex expert at Stanford Health in California, the difference depends on who takes the “more active role” during sex.
In general, men have more muscle than women. This means that they burn more calories, even when doing the same activity as women.
However, Professor Millheiser said that those who take a “more active role” during sex are likely to burn more calories.
A survey published earlier this month by DailyMail.com found that doggy style and missionary are among the most popular sex positions among straight couples.
In the first exercise, one participant bends over and squats on all fours, while in the second exercise, one partner sits on top of the other while they face each other.
In most cases, the man uses more energy in both positions, which leads to greater calorie burning during sex.
The calorie figures in the 2022 study were only an estimated average value. These figures may change in couples where the woman prefers to take a more active role.
Last month’s survey found that reverse cowgirl was also one of the most popular sexual positions.
On average, men burn 101 calories during sex, which is equivalent to a 4-ounce bag of Skinny Pop popcorn
In this position, the woman lies on top and faces away from her partner.
In this position, it is the woman who does most of the movement, meaning she is likely to burn more calories than her male partner.
The study also found that the average sexual encounter lasts a whopping 30 minutes per session, meaning that men in the US can burn up to 126 calories per session.
While women burn up to 93 calories per 30-minute session.
For comparison, a 30-minute jog burns up to 500 calories.
Dr. Jason Karp, exercise scientist and author of Sexercise: Training for better sex, told Daily Health: ‘Despite the increases in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure during sex, it appears that sex, as a form of exercise, does not outweigh the cardiovascular and calorie-burning benefits of other forms of exercise, such as running, cycling, and weightlifting.’
This may be because sex does not increase heart rate as much as other intense cardio activities and is more comparable to a moderately brisk walk.
And previous research has shown that sexual activity lasts only three to thirteen minutes. Experts therefore believe that the estimated number of calories burned is likely based on the energy expended during foreplay and non-penetrative sex.
Still, Dr. Millheiser told Everyday Health that the more time you spend cuddling, kissing, and being intimate, the more calories you burn.