Basal Metabolic Rate

Basal Metabolic Rate is an estimate of how much energy (in calories) the body burns when at rest. For example, the basal metabolic rate of Sally, a 20-year-old woman who is 5’6” and weighs 150 pounds, is about 1520 kcal per day. If Sally stays in bed all day, her body will burn 1520 kcal just to keep her breathing and keep her heart beating. But if Sally gets up and moves around, she will use more energy. Our basal metabolic rate decreases as we age.