How to Change MyFitnessPal from kJ to Cal: A Step-by-Step Guide

According to MyFitnessPal's own support resources, you can customize your units of measure for energy, weight, and distance at any time. This guide will show you precisely how to change MyFitnessPal from kJ to cal, ensuring your food diary displays the energy unit you prefer.

Quick Summary

This guide provides instructions for switching your MyFitnessPal energy unit from kilojoules to calories using the mobile app and website, including tips for troubleshooting syncing issues.

Key Points

• Mobile App Steps: To change units on your phone, go to 'More' > 'Settings' > 'Edit Profile' > 'Units' and select 'Calories' for energy.

• Website Steps: To change units online, log in and navigate to 'My Home' > 'Settings' > 'Change Units' and select 'Calories'.

• Syncing is Key: After changing settings on one platform, ensure your app is connected to the internet to properly sync with the website and update your display.

• Troubleshoot Sync Issues: If the change doesn't stick, try changing the setting on the website and then clearing the app's data or reinstalling it.

• Calories vs. Kilojoules: Remember that 1 calorie (kcal) is equivalent to 4.18 kilojoules (kJ), so the unit change is simply a conversion for convenience.

• Regional Defaults: The app's default energy unit (kJ or cal) depends on your geographical settings, which is why some users need to change it.

Kilojoules (kJ) are the standard metric unit for measuring food energy, while calories (often technically kilocalories, or kcal) are the imperial unit. MyFitnessPal supports both, but your default may be set to kJ depending on your region. If you prefer to track your nutrition in calories, the process is straightforward across all platforms.

Changing Units on the MyFitnessPal Mobile App

The steps for updating your energy units are similar on both iOS and Android devices, primarily accessed through the 'More' menu.

For iOS Users

1. Open the App: Launch the MyFitnessPal application on your iPhone.
2. Go to 'More': Tap the 'More' icon, typically found in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Access Profile: Tap your profile photo or name at the top of the 'More' page.
4. Edit Profile: Select the 'Edit Profile' option.
5. Expand Units: Locate and tap the 'Units' list to view your current settings.
6. Select Energy Units: Find the 'Energy' option and tap to select your preferred unit, 'Calories'.
7. Confirm Changes: Tap 'Confirm' or the checkmark icon to save the new setting.

For Android Users

1. Open the App: Start the MyFitnessPal app on your Android device.
2. Go to 'More': Tap the 'More' tab, which is often represented by three dots or lines.
3. Enter Settings: Select 'Settings' from the menu.
4. Access Account Settings: In the 'My Account' section, tap 'Edit Profile'.
5. View Units: Tap on 'Units' to bring up the list of measurements.
6. Change Energy Units: Choose 'Energy' and set the unit to 'Calories'.
7. Save Units: Press 'OK' or the checkmark to save your new energy unit.

Changing Units on the MyFitnessPal Website

If you prefer to make changes from your computer, you can do so by logging into the MyFitnessPal website.

1. Log In: Visit www.MyFitnessPal.com and sign in to your account.
2. Navigate to 'My Home': Click on 'My Home' in the navigation bar.
3. Access Settings: From the dropdown menu, select 'Settings'.
4. Click 'Change Units': On the Settings page, find and click the 'Change Units' link.
5. Update Energy: Select 'Calories' as your energy unit from the options provided.
6. Save Changes: Click the 'Save Changes' button to update your settings. The changes will sync to your mobile app the next time it connects.

Troubleshooting: When the Change Doesn't Stick

Occasionally, users report issues with their changes not syncing correctly. If you have followed the steps above and your units are still incorrect, consider these solutions:

• Force Sync: Manually force your app to sync by going to the 'More' menu and finding the 'Sync' option. Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
• Change via Website (Advanced Sync): Some users on Reddit have reported that a more robust method for Android is to first change the calorie goal on the website, and then uninstall and reinstall the app. This forces a fresh sync from the website settings.
• Clear App Data: For a clean slate, try clearing the app's cache and data in your phone's settings before re-logging in. (Note: This is a more drastic step).

Understanding the Difference: Calories vs. Kilojoules

While the terminology can be confusing, both calories (kcal) and kilojoules (kJ) are simply different units for measuring the same thing: energy. One kilocalorie is equal to approximately 4.18 kilojoules. Here's a quick comparison:

Feature	Calories (kcal)	Kilojoules (kJ)
Measurement System	Imperial	Metric
Primary Usage	Common in the US and parts of the UK	Standard in Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe
Conversion Factor	1 kcal ≈ 4.18 kJ	1 kJ ≈ 0.239 kcal
Abbreviation	Cal or kcal	kJ
Typical Values	A 2000 calorie diet	An ~8400 kilojoule diet

Switching to calories in MyFitnessPal ensures all your tracked food and goals appear in the unit you're most familiar with, making your daily logging more intuitive.

Conclusion

Whether you use the mobile app on iOS or Android, or prefer the web interface, changing MyFitnessPal from kJ to cal is a quick process. By navigating to your profile and unit settings, you can easily switch your energy measurement to the imperial calorie system. If you encounter any syncing issues, using the website to update and forcing a sync on your app should resolve the problem. This customization is a small but important step toward making your nutrition tracking experience as seamless as possible.

For more information on the kilocalorie vs kilojoule distinction, check out this guide from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/kcal-vs-calories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my MyFitnessPal app showing kilojoules (kJ) instead of calories?

MyFitnessPal automatically sets your default units based on your region. Kilojoules are the metric standard for energy measurement and are commonly used in many countries. You can manually change this in your profile settings.

Is there a quick conversion formula for kJ to cal?

Yes, to quickly convert kilojoules to calories, you can divide the kJ value by 4.184. For a rough estimate, you can simply divide by 4.

I changed my settings, but the app still shows kJ. What should I do?

If your units aren't updating, try forcing a sync within the app or changing the setting on the MyFitnessPal website. Some Android users find success by changing the units on the website and then reinstalling the app to force a fresh sync.

Will changing from kJ to cal affect my diet goals?

No, changing the unit of measurement will not change your underlying nutritional goals. The app simply displays the energy value in your chosen unit. For example, a 2000-calorie goal is the same as an ~8360-kilojoule goal.

Can I change my energy units for just one food entry?

MyFitnessPal's system-wide settings apply to all food entries. However, when logging a food, if you find the entry is in kJ and you prefer calories, you can manually calculate the conversion or check for an alternative entry in the food database.

Can I have MyFitnessPal display both kJ and cal?

No, MyFitnessPal only allows you to select one energy unit to be displayed at a time. However, you can easily switch between them in your profile settings whenever you need to reference the alternative unit.

Does this unit change also apply to my Apple Watch or other synced devices?

The change you make in the MyFitnessPal app should sync with connected devices and services. If you notice a discrepancy, you may need to update the unit settings directly on the connected device as well.