What Is Your Basal Metabolic Rate?

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the calorie energy used by your body to function inclusive of energy used internally for respiration, to control your body temperature and heart beat.

It is the amount of calories used by your body when you're completely inactive. Your age, gender, weight, muscle mass and body size all impact your BMR.

Your body "burns" more calories throughout the day than just the energy exhausted when relaxed to sustain your body's normal functions.

This constant labor accounts for 60 percent of calories used by your body.

Determine Your BMR

The formula for calculating your BMR:

BMR for males = 66 + (13.7 x W) + (5 x H) - (6.8 x Y)
BMR for females = 655 + (9.6 x W) + (1.8 x H) - (4.7 x Y)

Abbreviations:
W = Weight in Kilograms (Pounds ÷ 2.2)
H = Height in Centimeters (Inches x 2.54)
Y = Age in Years

As we age, our BMR will decrease because we have less lean body mass. Height is also a consideration in your BMR, being tall and lean you would have a higher BMR.

Other issues that can lower your BMR are high levels of stress hormones, fasting, malnutrition and changes in the environmental temperature.

Quick weight loss diets with extremely low caloric intake decreases your BMR, which makes it harder or almost impossible to lose weight.

Aerobic fitness will boost your BMR. It improves your health when your body isn't able to burn energy as fast.

"Achieving A Healthy Lifestyle For Women's Health and Fitness"