What Is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
Definition
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): The energy the body uses in a day at complete rest to keep vital functions such as breathing, circulation and body temperature going, in kcal per day.
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the energy your body uses in a day at complete rest to keep vital functions going: breathing, blood circulation and body temperature. It is given in kcal per day. Multiplied by an activity factor, it gives the daily energy need. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Where it appears in the formulas
The calorie calculator estimates BMR with the Mifflin–St Jeor equation (Mifflin et al., 1990). For men BMR = 10 × weight + 6.25 × height − 5 × age + 5; for women the same sum ends in − 161 instead of + 5. Weight is in kg, height in cm and age in years.
BMR and resting metabolic rate
BMR is measured in the morning, fasting and at complete rest. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is measured under looser conditions and is usually a little higher. The Mifflin–St Jeor equation estimates resting expenditure; calculators often use the two terms for the same thing.