Everything You Need To Know About Basal Metabolic Rate

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) refers to the energy your body needs to perform basic functions such as breathing and digesting. BMR varies from person to person, but it can be estimated using a series of tests.

Basics

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy your body needs to function at rest. It’s measured in calories and can be calculated by a number of methods, but the most accurate method is called indirect calorimetry. You’ll need to go to your doctor’s office for that one.

The basal rate varies based on age, sex, weight and height; the more muscular you are and the more active you are also playing a role. For example, someone who weighs 200 pounds will have a higher BMR than his female counterpart, which weighs 150 pounds, even though they’re both active individuals with similar muscle mass ratios and ages (25 years old).

Calories

Calories are a unit of energy. Your body uses calories to function, so you need to consume them in order to keep your organs functioning properly and your muscles from atrophying. This is why people often refer to being on a diet; when you’re on a diet, you’re restricting the number of calories that enter your body. When you restrict the number of calories that enter your body, it automatically adjusts its metabolic rate (the amount of energy it needs) down accordingly so that it can sustain itself with fewer calories.

Understanding BMR

The basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy your body burns at rest. Your BMR determines the calories needed in order to maintain your body weight and activity level. If you have a higher BMR, it means that you are more active or have a bigger body size, which will require more food intake than someone with a lower BMR.

BMR is the amount of calories burned when you stay in bed all day. According to Tandem Diabetes’ professionals, “It’s your body’s base level of energy expenditure, and it accounts for about two-thirds of how many calories your body burns each day.”

The BMR formula varies from person to person. However, depending on a variety of factors, including their age, gender and body composition. Your gender and genetics have the biggest influence on your BMR; men tend to have higher basal metabolic rates than women because they weigh more on average due to more muscle mass.

Risks of miscalculating your BMR

When you miscalculate your BMR, the results can be devastating. By eating too few calories, you’ll start to lose weight—but what is lost will be mostly muscle mass, not fat. This kind of weight loss can lead to a downward spiral that makes it difficult for your body to maintain its current level of activity: Since your body will burn fewer calories at rest due to less lean muscle mass, it needs fewer calories overall just to survive.

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for living a long and healthy life. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is one of the most important factors that determine the calories needed for maintaining your current weight. It can also help you lose weight if you want to lose or gain weight if you want to gain.