BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)
Definition
The number of calories your body needs to perform basic life-sustaining functions at complete rest, such as breathing, circulation, and cell production.
Formula
Mifflin-St Jeor: BMR = 10 × weight(kg) + 6.25 × height(cm) - 5 × age - 161 (women) or + 5 (men)Basal Metabolic Rate represents the minimum number of calories your body burns at complete rest to maintain essential physiological functions. It accounts for roughly 60-75% of your total daily energy expenditure and is influenced by factors including age, sex, weight, height, and body composition.
BMR decreases with age and increases with greater lean muscle mass. This is one reason strength training is recommended for long-term weight management: muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue. Men generally have higher BMRs than women due to greater average muscle mass.
Knowing your BMR is the foundation for calculating your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), which determines how many calories you need daily based on your activity level. To lose weight, you consume fewer calories than your TDEE; to gain weight, you consume more.
Related Calculators
Related Terms
TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)
healthThe total number of calories your body burns in a day, combining basal metabolic rate, physical activity, and the thermic effect of food.
Metabolic Rate
healthThe speed at which your body burns calories for energy, encompassing basal metabolic rate plus the energy used for activity and digestion.
RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate)
healthThe number of calories your body burns while at rest in a non-fasting state, similar to but slightly higher than BMR.
Calorie
healthA unit of energy used to measure the energy content of food and beverages and the energy expenditure of physical activities.
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