Homework has long been considered as a sedentary activity that involves sitting for long periods of time in order to get tasks done.

Most students spend several hours everyday sitting and studying, which means that they are not engaging in any form of physical activity during this time. However, recent studies suggest that doing homework can actually help students burn calories.

The Science Behind It

When we engage in activities that require mental concentration, our bodies burn calories because our brains are using energy. This means that even though we are not physically active, our bodies still burn some calories.

According to research, mental work requires 3 to 5 times more calories than sitting or resting quietly. So, the more mentally demanding the task, the more calories you burn.

How Many Calories Can You Burn While Doing Homework?

The number of calories burned while doing homework varies depending on the type of task and the level of mental effort required.

According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, a 125-pound person can burn approximately 42 calories per half-hour while doing seated homework, such as reading or writing. For a 155-pound person and a 185-pound person, the number of calories burned would be around 52 and 62 per half-hour, respectively.

As for more active forms of homework, like completing a science project or doing home repairs, the number of calories burned can be even higher. These activities require more physical movement and thus burn more calories.

For example, a 155-pound person can burn approximately 150 calories per hour while doing light home repairs, such as painting or cleaning.

Factors That Affect the Number of Calories Burned

There are several factors that can affect the number of calories burned while doing homework. These include:.

Body weight: The more you weigh, the more calories you burn during any activity.
Activity level: More active forms of homework, such as science projects or home repairs, burn more calories than seated tasks like reading.
Effort level: The more mental effort required for the task, the more calories you burn.
Gender: Men typically burn more calories than women due to their higher muscle mass and metabolic rate.

How to Increase the Number of Calories Burned While Doing Homework

If you want to increase the number of calories burned while doing homework, there are several things you can do. These include:.

Stand while studying: Instead of sitting on a chair, you can stand while studying. Standing burns more calories than sitting and can also improve your posture.
Move around during study breaks: Taking frequent breaks to stretch, walk around, or do some light exercises can help you burn more calories while also improving your concentration and productivity.
Use an exercise ball or standing desk: These alternatives to the traditional chair or desk can help you engage your core muscles while studying, which can help you burn more calories and improve your posture.

Conclusion

While doing homework may not be the most physically demanding activity, it does require mental effort, which means that our bodies do burn some calories.

The number of calories burned varies depending on the task and the level of mental effort required, but incorporating movement and exercise breaks can help increase the total number of calories burned.