The Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories the body burns while at rest. Understanding Basal Metabolic Rate allows the user to monitor the number of calories required depending on physical build and lifestyle. The more muscle a person has or the more active a person is, the more calories he or she requires – this information can be used to create a diet and fitness programme.
| Age group | Basic formula | ||||||
| BMR [MJ/Day] | = | Factor | x | body mass [kg] | + | Summand | |
| Women | |||||||
| 10-18 | BMR [MJ/Day] | = | 0,056 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,898 |
| 19-30 | BMR[MJ/Day] | = | 0,062 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,036 |
| 31-60 | BMR [MJ/Day] | = | 0,034 | x | body mass[kg] | + | 3,538 |
| >60 | BMR[MJ/Day] | = | 0,038 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,755 |
| Men | |||||||
| 10-18 | BMR [MJ/Day] | = | 0,074 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,754 |
| 19-30 | BMR[MJ/Day] | = | 0,063 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,896 |
| 31-60 | BMR[MJ/Day] | = | 0,048 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 3,653 |
| >60 | BMR [MJ/Day] | = | 0,049 | x | body mass [kg] | + | 2,459 |
Table: Formula for estimating Basal Metabolic Rate (according to WHO 1985)
Calories (cal) and joules (J) can be converted as follows:
| 1 cal | 4,184 J |
| 0,239 cal | 1 J |
The Metabolic Age describes the age of the body, which on average corresponds to the Basal Metabolic Rate. If the age shown is higher than the actual age the Basal Metabolic Rate is too low. By increasing sporting activity muscle tissue will be built up, which burns extra calories even when the body is at rest and consequently the metabolism falls.