Resting Metabolic Rate: RMR Calculator



The resting metabolic rate calculator or RMR calculator provides you a vivid detail regarding how many calories you consume daily in rest conditions. Metabolic rate offers information about the calories required for various body functions like ventilation, blood circulation, etc. In this way, the resting metabolic rate calculator will determine the calories consumption at rest to continue the body’s daily activities.

Resting metabolic rate is quite similar to basal metabolic rate except for a few differences. Both provide the calorie consumption to fuel the basic activities of daily routine. In other words, metabolic rate calculates burnt calories while resting for the whole day. you can also try a calorie calculator.

What is the resting metabolic rate?

Resting metabolic rate determines the calorie count required for the body to function at rest. Calories are a form of energy. It is required for every function of the body. Even at rest, you need calories to keep yourself alive. These are some basic body activities that continue even in rest conditions. These are as follows:

  • Heart beating to supply oxygenated blood to other structures of the body
  • Breathing
  • Brain functioning
  • Food absorption and extracting energy
  • Maintaining the functions of other vital organs

These are the continuous body functions that are essential for staying alive. The resting metabolic rate calculator only counts the calories consumed during these body functions.

What are the basic points that have an impact on the resting metabolic rate calculator?

There are several factors that can affect a resting metabolic rate calculator. These factors can increase or decrease the calorie account depending on the factors. Some of the fundamental factors are as follows.

  • Muscle bulk – more muscle bulk will increase the value of the resting metabolic rate.
  • Heredity – genetics has a great influence on the resting metabolic rate.
  • Crash dieting – Dieting will help you to decrease the resting metabolic rate.
  • Age – with passing age, resting metabolic rate decreases
  • Climate – cold climate can also affect the metabolic rate by increasing its value.
  • Pregnancy – also has a strong impact on the resting metabolic rate with increased value.

How to differentiate between basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate?

As mentioned earlier, there is a minor difference between the basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate. Let us explain the basic differences between these two metabolic rates.

Basal metabolic rateResting metabolic rate
It requires fasting for 8 to 12 hours to calculate the basal metabolic rate.It does not require fasting conditions to calculate the resting metabolic rate.
Usually, done after 8 hours of sleep with no calories burnt for food digestion.It has less limited restrictions with no fasting conditions. A 24 hours rest is necessary for the resting metabolic rate calculator.

Why is there a need to calculate the resting metabolic rate?

Resting metabolic rate is an important tool to confirm your daily intake of calories to maintain an ideal weight. If you think you are overweight and want to lose weight, you need to calculate your lowest daily calorie intake. It will help you to lose weight without spending bucks and maintaining heavy-diet plans.

In the same way, if you want to build muscle or gain weight, it will help you to achieve your ideal body fitness. It is important to keep a check and balance at your resting metabolic rate to avail of these benefits.

You can easily calculate your daily calorie intake by using these resting metabolic rate calculators. These calculators use some parameters to provide you with the desired results.

What are the formulas to calculate resting metabolic rate?

There are different formulas to calculate the resting metabolic rate. Some of them are clinical methods like calorimetry to calculate the resting metabolic rate. Moreover, there are also some equation formulas to evaluate your baseline resting metabolic rate. It will help you to maintain your regular physical activity and body fitness. Let us have a look at the equation formula to evaluate the resting metabolic rate at home.

Harris and Benedict equation

This equation is easy to use, simple, and inexpensive. Simply, you need to put the required values in different parameters to get effective results. This equation is different for both men and women. In this way, the resting metabolic rate also differs for men and women. The Harris and Benedict equation is as follows:

Resting metabolic rate for men: 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) – (5.677 × age in years)
Resting metabolic rate for women: 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) – (4.330 × age in years)

There is also another equation to determine the resting metabolic rate known as the Mifflin-St Jeor formula. It is an alternative to the above equation formula. Moreover, it provides a more accurate estimation of the resting metabolic rate.

Resting metabolic rate for men: (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) – (5 × age in years) + 5
Resting metabolic rate for women: (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) – (5 × age in years) – 161

These are the equations for men and women. The resting metabolic rate calculator depends on height, weight, and age. These all parameters make this calculator reliable to use at home.

How to use this resting metabolic rate calculator formula?

There is no rocket science to use this resting metabolic rate calculator formula. You need to put the values of your height, age, and weight in the required parameters. Press the calculate button. It will provide you with the baseline calorie count required in rest conditions. Let us take an example for an easy understanding of the details.

  • Select the person to whom you want to calculate the resting metabolic rate. We take an example of a 25 years old male, with a weight of about 65 kg, and a height of 176 cm.
  • Put all these values in the Harris and Benedict equation formula to calculate the resting metabolic rate.

Resting metabolic rate = 88.362 + (13.397 × 65 kg) + (4.799 ×176 cm) – (4.330 × 25 years)
Resting metabolic rate = 1695 Kcal/day

What is the chance of potential error in these resting metabolic rate calculator formulas?

There is a chance of error in these formulas while calculating resting metabolic rate. These calculators dictate that an individual of the same age, gender, and height will have the same resting metabolic rate. This statement is not reliable to apply to everyone. Your lean body mass index has a strong impact on the resting metabolic rate.

Studies suggest an error of about 10% to 36% error chances while calculating the RMR with these formulas. To compensate for these errors, there are several other calculators to achieve maximum accuracy of calories intake.

Conclusion

The resting metabolic rate calculator determines the accurate values of the calories required for basic body functioning. These body functions are usually breathing, heartbeat, blood circulation, etc. Moreover, it depends on the person’s age, height, weight, and gender. These parameters help to find the best accurate values for the resting metabolic rate.

The resting metabolic rate calculator depends on gender. So it exhibits different values for males and females.  There may be a chance of error in resting metabolic rate by these formulas. But these calculators are inexpensive as compared to the clinical methods.

The resting metabolic rate is essential to control body weight and maintain fitness. From this, you can limit your daily calorie intake. In this way, these calculators indirectly help to lose weight or build muscles.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Are resting metabolic rate calculators accurate?

These calculators are not as accurate as the clinical testing methods. You need to go through some breathing or respiration tests for accurate determination of the resting metabolic rate. This procedure is quite expensive. You can use these resting metabolic rate calculators with a potential margin of +/- 300 calories per day.

How can I burn enough calories to maintain the baseline calorie intake?

When you are trying to lose weight, you need to maintain a strong check and balance in your diet. Calculate your resting metabolic rate. It will help you to provide the baseline minimum calories you require for a day. Set your target to the minimum level of calories intake. Otherwise, there are some ways to burn more calories.
● Walking or workout
● Physical activities like house chores

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