Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
In an adult, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of daily calories needed
to maintain the basic functions of your body.
In 1919, James Arthur Harris and Francis Gano Benedict present a method to calculate the BMR, known as the
Harris-Benedict method. Subsequently, other methods appear as the mathematical equations: Mifflin-St Jeor, Owen and
WHO / FAO / UNU. In these equations are used for the calculations, the personal components: the weight in kilograms,
sex, age in years and height in centimeters, except the latter, that use the meter as a measure of height.
The equations results are obtained using the calorie as the unit of measure, in fact, kilocalories (kcal), equivalent
to a thousand calories, which is a multiple, in the physical sciences.
A Kilocalorie (kcal) is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature by one degree Celsius, one kilogram of
water, under certain temperature conditions and pressure.
The food energy is measured in kilocalories, but generally known as calories. The calorie needed for an individual in
a day varies with their physical activity. That is, the greater the physical activity, higher calorie needs.
The foods are sources of calories. Each food has a certain amount of calories. The calories in the personal diet,
greater than the needs store an excess fat in the body.
Overweight due to fat accumulation at different levels has been implicated as a risk factor for coronary heart
disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc. There are more complex and more accurate way to calculate the BMR which is
based on oxygen consumption and the elimination of carbon dioxide through respiration.
The Mifflin-St Jeor formula is mentioned in several reports as to the better accuracy.
How to calculate the BMR.
Related Topics:
Daily Calorie Needs Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) Body Surface Area (BSA)