FitBit/Cronometer Calorie Burn Integration

Spopar

I use Cronometer to track calorie intake compared to FitBit calories burned. There seems to be a double count of BMR and I don’t know how to get around it. I’m also not sure that FitBit isn’t double counting my exercise and activity time. The minutes and/or calories burned are suspiciously close. An example of my concern is that currently 6:00 pm, FitBit shows 1685 calories burned. Cronometer says per FitBit I have burned 432 calories of 126 minute activity time and 433 calories of 74.3 walking time. Cronometer’s total burn for me right now is 2000 calories burned. Cronometer uses 1112 as my BMR. I don’t know how much FitBit calculates but believe there is a duplication of BMR. Does anyone one else have this issue and if so what can be done to get to a more accurate calorie burn number?

Karen_Cronometer

Hi Spopar,

You can check the activity calories reported by Fitbit to compare:

From your Fitbit app

tap on Cals wheel
tap on exercise this week wheel
tap on the active minutes wheel

Could you send us a screenshot at support@cronometer.com and the support team can help you troubleshoot.

Thanks!

Spopar

Thank you for your assistance, Karen. I am attaching screen shots I think you were looking for as well as specific ones for yesterday.

Spopar

The only way I could get the calorie burn to be close was to set Cronometer’s Activity Level to “none” and not include TEF.

As an aside, could you please explain “Custom Energy Target”? It’s purpose and impact?

Thank you

Karen_Cronometer

That makes sense! Fitbit measures your activity so we recommend setting your activity level estimate to none, and they also do not have an added TEF factored into their equations.

The custom energy target allows you to set your energy target to anything you like, rather than using the calculated Basal Metabolic Rate or other energy settings. For example, setting a custom fixed target, or following a diet plan with a rate of weight gain or loss that is different than the settings offered in the app.

Your custom target is applied to your energy target bar in the Macronutrient Targets section of the app, such as the second banner in the diary screen: https://support.cronometer.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019003451-Mobile-Macronutrient-Breakdown

Spopar

Karen_Cronometer, are you saying I should or should not include the TEF option?

Karen_Cronometer

That's up to you! If you'd like to more closely match calories burned reported by Fitbit, then leave it out because Fitbit does not include TEF.