People may hit the gym to try and lose weight, when in fact 70 to 80 percent of calories are burned from their own metabolism—not exercise. That’s why the folks at Breezing have developed a metabolism tracker now crowdfunding on Indiegogo.

“Obesity affects more than a quarter of Americans, and has become a leading health problem worldwide,” Breezing co-founder NJ Tao told WallStreetInsanity. “Many new technologies have been created in recent years. While most of them focus on counting physical activity-related energy expenditure, Breezing tracks metabolism, which counts for 70 to 80 percent of total energy expenditure for most of us who has time for only two to three hours per week on exercises. Everyone’s metabolism is different, and can change over time. Knowing metabolism tells us how many calories we should be eating to maintain, loose, or gain weight.”

The Breezing Portable Metabolism Tracker provides the users with their metabolism REEding—Resting Energy Expenditure—or the number of calories burned each day, their body’s energy source—whether they are burning carbohydrates, fats or a mix of both, total energy expenditure—total calories burned through metabolism and activity, metabolic  user to history, and weight history. Based on the metabolic profile, the device provides the user with his or her customized diet and exercise goals. It also allows the user to share results through email, Facebook or Twitter.

“Breezing is the first battery-operated metabolism tracker that syncs with smartphones for anyone to use anywhere and anytime,” Tao told WallStreetInsanity. “It is based on indirect calorimetry, which determines energy expenditure of a person by measuring both consumed oxygen and produced carbon dioxide rates.”

The Breezing device is portable and easy to use. It syncs wirelessly to any smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth technology. To record a reading, users simply insert the sensor cartridge and breathe into it.

“My lab has been developing wireless sensors for environmental and health applications at ASU for over 10 years,” Tao said. “Building on the experience, we started Breezing project 3-4 years ago, aiming at obesity and overweight.

“We invented the basic technology in the Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors, Biodesign Institute of ASU. In order to take the technology from the research lab to the real world, (NJ Tao) and Erica Forzani created TF Health Co. (www.breezing.co). We have built prototype devices, validated the technology, and established manufacturing and quality control procedures for the Breezing hardware and sensor cartridges. We are now in the process to bring Breezing into mass production. Our first generation of users can pre-order Breezing via indiegogo (www.indiegogo.com/metabolism).”

Now Breezing needs to prove to its manufacturer there is demand in order to start large-scale production. The startup has set a goal of $100,000 by March 13. Breezing is accepting pledges on Indiegogo.com for as little as $2 and will offer backers an advanced download of the Breezing app in May. For a $25 pledge, backers can receive advanced download of the app for iOS as soon as it’s available.

Want your own Breezing? Pledge $250 and receive the Breezing device with 10 sensor cartridges, or get Breezing for the whole family—a set of 4 with 40 sensor cartridges—with a $400 pledge. The pledge awards increase with more Breezings at higher levels up to 10 Breezings and 100 mouthpieces at the $900 level, or a VIP pledge of $5,000 that offers a meeting with the Breezing founders, a one-on-one Breezing REEding level and consultation, full Breezing device and lifetime support.