Basal Metabolic Rate

BMR is an abbreviation for Basal Metabolic Rate. BMR is the minimum of calories required for the body at rest to sustain normal body functioning and life. The energy in this condition is consumed only for the support of the most important organs such as nervous system, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. BMR depends on age, sex, weight, height, nutrition, and general activities. Determining of Basal Metabolic Rate is an important tool for maintaining the normal body weight.

People spend energy continuously regardless of their level of activity, even when they are sleeping. It is good to know and calculate the Basal Metabolic Rate. As a matter of fact, Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories that an individual would have spent remaining in bed all day. With age people notice that the older they become, the harder is for them to remain in good shape. The case is that with age the BMR is reduced. BMR is also reduced when an individual limits himself or herself in food hoping to lower the weight because the body adapts to the new conditions. Although with years the body's ability to burn calories decreases, regular exercise can increase the BMR, producing a positive effect on the general physical condition. You can check your Basal Metabolic Rate with our special BMR calculator for women or BMR calculator for men.

BMR is determined under strict conditions by calorimetry methods at a complete rest. BMR can be also calculated and expressed in terms of daily rates of energy spending through Harris-Benedict equation using body weight, height, age, and sex.

Among different people the Basal Metabolic Rate may vary from 1027 kcal per day to 2499 kcal per day with a mean of 1500 kcal per day. Low food intake decreases the BMR. Diseases, food, surrounding temperature, and stresses can influence upon BMR. Life maintaining processes such as metabolic activity, body temperature, heart rate, breathing, gastrointestinal functions are controlled by hypothalamus. Heart rate is particularly important for BMR because it secures adequate blood supply. These processes require oxygen to produce energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.