BMR

Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology

BMR
Stands forBasal metabolic rate
CategoriesScience & Engineering

BMR stands for Basal metabolic rate, a biology abbreviation also used in sports.

Energy a body uses at complete rest, after fasting, in a comfortable temperature, to keep organs functioning. In adults BMR typically accounts for about 60-70% of daily calorie expenditure, and it depends mainly on body size, lean mass, age and sex.

Example: Her estimated BMR is 1,350 kcal per day, so her total energy needs are around 1,900 kcal.

Usage notes

Formulas such as the Harris-Benedict (1918) and Mifflin-St Jeor (1990) equations estimate BMR from weight, height, age and sex. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), measured under less strict conditions, is often used interchangeably. Across mammals, metabolic rate scales roughly with body mass to the three-quarters power, a pattern known as Kleiber's law.

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