Sex toy manufacturer’s app now tells women how many calories they burn from using their vibrator
- ZALO USA claims it is the first manufacturer in the world to offer the feature
- The firm says its algorithm is based on a study of calories burnt during sex
- It says masturbation will not burn as many because it requires less movement
A Fitbit-style app linked to vibrators can now tell women exactly how many calories they have burnt by masturbating.
ZALO USA claims it is the first sex toy manufacturer in the world to offer the bizarre feature, which works with three of its products.
The firm says its algorithm is based on a scientific study that suggested self-love burns around three calories every minute.
The research it is allegedly based on found sex – from foreplay to climax – burns the equivalent of 3.6 calories every minute. Other studies show it can be much higher.
ZALO admits masturbation will not burn as many calories because it requires less physical movement.
It claims to have to done its own tests on 218 women, which found they burned up to six calories every minute.
ZALO USA claims it is the first sex toy manufacturer in the world to offer the bizarre feature, which works with three of its products
Its calorie-counting calculation monitors the duration, as well as which setting of vibration women choose to use.
The Chicago-based firm says the higher the vibrations, the higher a woman’s heart rate – which means she will burn more calories.
According to ZALO, if a woman masturbated three times a week for 10 minutes – considered an average time, they could burn 90 calories.
However, doctors have said evidence is lacking to suggest masturbating can burn any serious amount of calories.
ZALO’s app, which can be downloaded for free, can be connected to three of the firm’s vibrators through Bluetooth.
The app also monitors how loud women are while masturbating and automatically shuts off when it senses the vibrations are over.
The app’s in-built happiness recorder also claims to analyses the decibels of ‘sexual vocalization’ made per minute. Louder women earn more points.
It uses all this data to jot up a total score for women after they have masturbated, known as the Z-index.
ZALO claims to have worked alongside an academic at the University of Melbourne in Australia to create the algorithms it uses.
But the university told MailOnline it had no record of ever employing the man ZALO said was working with them – Dr Rajashekar Akkireddi.
A spokesperson for the institution said: ‘No-one of that name is working, or has worked, at the University of Melbourne.’
Its calorie-counting calculation monitors the duration, as well as which setting of vibration women choose to use. The Chicago-based firm says the higher the vibrations, the higher a woman’s heart rate – which means she will burn more calories
Scientists at the University of Montreal found in 2013 that women burn 3.6 calories for every minute of sexual activity.
But Dr Shirin Lakhani, former GP and now owner of Elite Aesthetics in Kent, told MailOnline ‘there’s no real evidence’ masturbating can burn calories.
She did, however, accept that masturbation releases endorphins by raising heart rate, which naturally burns some calories.
Samantha Evans, a sexual health and pleasure expert, agreed. But she also said there is ‘certainly no scientific evidence’ to prove masturbating burns calories.
HOW DOES MASTURBATING BURN CALORIES?
Around two thirds of the calories you burn every day are thanks to the body’s built-in calorie burning mechanism.
In simple terms, the basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is the amount of calories the body needs to keep its vital functions running smoothly while resting.
Harvard Medical School says sleeping burns around 50 calories every hour because the body still needs calories to keep the heart beating.
But any form of activity that requires the body to work harder, including masturbation, will lead to more calories being burned.
Women use the muscles in their pelvic floor, as well as those in their quads and glutes when they pleasure themselves.
Masturbation also triggers the production of oxytocin – sometimes called the ‘love hormone’. This process uses calories in itself.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, an NHS cardiologist and obesity campaigner, told MailOnline it was ‘feasible’ that ‘masturbation can prevent weight gain’.
‘For women, regular orgasms release the hormone oxytocin that counteracts the effects cortisol, the stress hormone that also makes us hungry,’ he said.
However, Pamela David, a personal trainer based in London, said the ‘science speaks for itself’.
She said: ‘We use calories to breath, eat, walk and sleep. If we change any of our body activity to a higher rate than when it is at rest we burn more calories.’
ZALO’s app does not come with a leaderboard, unlike Fitbit, which allows users to compare the amount of steps they have walked with friends.
Several scientific studies have shown the similar technology used in Fitbit devices can encourage people to exercise more.
Tania Adib, a consultant gynaecologist at The Medical Chambers Kensington, told MailOnline: ‘I think this sounds like an interesting and fun new addition.’
As well as burning calories, masturbating can also benefit health, according to Dr Lakhani.
She told MailOnline: ‘Masturbation can actually have a significant benefit on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.
‘Masturbation ultimately leads to the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin which bring a feeling of calm as well as offering pain relief.
‘The resulting blood flow to the genitals is beneficial to the physical health too and can have a positive impact on the tissue in the area.’
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