What is Basal Metabolic Rate?

February 18, 2009

Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR is a term commonly used by dieticians, exercise physiologists, and health enthusiasts. It refers to the amount of energy that is required to perform normal vital body functions, like breathing and digestion while the body is at rest. Basal Metabolic Rate is responsible for burning up to 70% of the total calories expended. However, the percentage may vary due to several factors, like genetics, gender, age, weight, body temperature, body fat percentage, body surface area, diet, exercise, and so on.

Calculating a person’s total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is the first step in designing the nutrition plan for oneself. TDEE is the total number of calories that the body expends in 24 hours. William McArdle and Frank Katch, well-known exercise physiologists, state that the average TDEE for women in the United States is 2000-2100 calories per day, whereas the average for men is 2700-2900 calories per day. But athletes involved in events such as triathlon and ultra-endurance sports require more than 6000 calories per day just to maintain their weight.

Now-a-days, a wide range of basal metabolic rate calculators are available in the market. A BMR calculator is a software program that can be run on MS Windows operating system. These calculators help users to learn their daily calorie needs. Using the data furnished by you, namely the age, weight, height, gender, and activity level, the BMR calculator gives your BMR.

1 Comment »

1. 

   a nice informative one…!

   Comment by gibbs — February 24, 2009 @ 9:30 am

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