Cuddling is a low-intensity, affectionate activity, and the curiosity about its caloric burn is common. While primarily a resting activity, the body expends energy simply by existing. The energy used during this close contact is slightly above the amount required for basic survival, setting the stage for a modest, yet measurable, caloric expenditure. This subtle energy use serves as the baseline for calculating energy burned during a quiet activity.
Calorie Expenditure at Rest
The scientific baseline for energy use is the Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), which measures the calories burned while the body is physically at rest. This rate accounts for the energy required for fundamental involuntary functions, such as respiration, circulating blood, and regulating body temperature. RMR is a practical estimate of the energy needed for the body to function in an awake state.
Any activity, including the minimal movement involved in cuddling, uses RMR as its foundation. RMR is largely determined by factors like body composition; muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain than fat tissue. Therefore, two people can have vastly different resting calorie burns even when lying still. The total calories burned while cuddling equals the RMR plus the minimal energy expended by the activity itself.
Calculating Cuddling’s Caloric Cost
Researchers use the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) system to estimate the caloric cost of low-intensity activities like cuddling. One MET represents the energy expenditure of sitting quietly, which is approximately one calorie per kilogram of body weight per hour. Cuddling, caressing, or light affection is a very low-level physical activity, placing it in the light intensity category with a MET value only slightly above 1.0.
The caloric expenditure of cuddling typically falls within a narrow range, estimated to burn roughly 2 to 4 calories per minute. This is only marginally higher than simply lying still. Body weight directly influences the final calorie tally, as a heavier person requires more energy to maintain body functions and perform the activity. Consequently, a heavier individual will burn closer to the higher end of the range for the same duration.
How Physiological Responses Affect Energy Use
Beyond the mechanical energy of minimal movement, the body’s internal physiological response to close, affectionate contact also contributes to energy expenditure. Cuddling triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a role in social bonding and stress reduction. Oxytocin has been shown in some studies to influence metabolism, potentially leading to an increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation, though these effects are subtle in the context of a brief cuddling session.
This hormonal response can also lead to a minor shift in the autonomic nervous system, which may result in a slight elevation in heart rate. While the increase is not enough to qualify as a workout, this minor uptick in cardiovascular activity requires a fraction more energy than the heart uses at a complete rest. Small, unconscious movements like minor muscle tension or shifting position due to emotional engagement further differentiate the caloric cost of cuddling from the simple, passive state of just sitting still.