Resting Metabolic Rate

Definition

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is the amount of energy your body needs to maintain basic functions while at rest, like breathing and circulating blood.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is the energy expenditure of the body at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state, meaning that the digestive system is inactive. It accounts for the majority of the daily caloric needs and is influenced by factors such as age, sex, genetics, and body composition.

Benefits

• Helps determine daily caloric needs for weight management.
• Provides insight into metabolic health.
• Influences effective personalized dietary plans.

Examples

• Caloric calculations for personalized diet plans use RMR as a baseline.
• Fitness trackers often estimate RMR to provide daily activity goals.

Additional Information

• Importance: Understanding your RMR is important for setting realistic weight loss or gain goals, as it represents the energy requirements for maintaining essential physiological processes.

Related Terms

• Basal Metabolic Rate
• Total Daily Energy Expenditure
• Caloric Deficit
• Metabolism

References

• Understanding Energy Balance: Resting Metabolic Rate
• Metabolic Rate and Energy Requirements in Humans