Basal Metabolic Rate

(BMR)

Suman Kumar Mekap

Asst. Professor (Pharmacology)
CUTM, Bhubaneswar

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 Introduction

• Food is the fuel source of the body, the ingested

food undergoes metabolism to liberate energy
required for the vital activities of the body

• We consumes energy to meet the fuel demands of

the three ongoing processes in the body

i. Basal metabolic rate

ii. Specific dynamic action
iii. Physical activity

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 Basal Metabolic Rate
• BMR- minimum amount of energy required by the body
to maintain life at complete physical and mental rest in
post absorptive state

• Several functions within the body occurs at basal

condition

-Working of heart and other organs

-Conduction of nerve impulse
-Reabsorption by renal tubules
-GI motility
-Ion transport across membranes etc…..

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 Measurement of BMR
• BMR can be measured by the apparatus of Benedict and
Roth (closed circuit device) or by Douglas bag method
(open circuit device)

• The subject should be awake, at complete physical and

mental rest, in post absorptive state(ie, the patient should
not have taken anything by mouth for the past 12hrs) and
in a comfortable surrounding

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 Benedict-Roth method

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 Benedict-Roth method
• The volume of oxygen consumed by the subject for a
period of 2-6 minutes under basal conditions is
determined (E)

• The standard calorific value of one litre of oxygen

consumed is 4.825

• Heat produced in 6 min = 4.825*E

• Heat produced in 1 hr = 4.825E*10

• Body surface area (A) = H 0.725*W 0.425*71.84

• H= height in centimeter square
• W= weight in Kg
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 Normal values of BMR
• Adult man: 35-38 cal/sq.m/hr or
1600cal/day

• Adult woman: 32-35 cal/sqm/hr or

1400cal/day

• A BMR value between -15% and +20% is

considered normal

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 BMR CHART

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 Factors affecting BMR

• Surface area: directly proportional to surface area

• Sex: men have marginally higher BMR (5%)
• Age: in infants and growing children BMR is
higher. In adults BMR decreases at the rate of 2% per
decade of life
• Physical activity: increase with regular exercise
• Hormones: thyroid hormones increase BMR.
Epinephrine, cortisol, sex hormones and growth
hormone. Hormones increase BMR

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 • Environment: BMR is higher in cold climates
compared to warm climates

• Starvation: during starvation a decrease in BMR up

to 50% has been reported

• Fever: fever increases BMR. 10% increase for every 1⁰C

rise in body temperature

• Disease status: BMR is elevated in infections,

leukemia, cardiac failure hypertension etc.

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 Significance of BMR

• • BMR is important to calculate the caloric

requirement of an individual and planning of diets

• Assessment of thyroid function

• BMR is below normal in starvation, under nutrition,

Addison’s disease

• BMR is above normal in fever, diabetes insipidus,

leukemia and polycythemia

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 BODY FAT DISTRIBUTION

• Fat needed for fuel, insulation and protection of

organs

• Fat assists in nerve impulse transmission

• Fat supports normal hormone activity

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 RISKS OF BEING UNDERWEIGHT
• Inadequate fat stores to support life in event
of famine or illness.
• Low blood pressure

• Susceptibility to cold

• Anaemia in women

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 RISKS OF BEING OVERWEIGHT
Increased risk of:
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Gout, gallbladder disease, varicose veins
• Abdominal hernias, complications in surgery and
pregnancy.

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 OVERWEIGHT VERSUS OVERFAT

• BMI not suitable for athletes. Muscle

weights more than fat, therefore may be
classified as overweight but have lots of
muscle not fat.
• Pregnant & lactating women

• Adults over 65, (shrink with age)

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 CAN YOU BE OVER-FAT AND HEALTHY?

• Yes, if you are fit.

• Physical fitness improves cardiovascular health

–circulation and blood lipids; lowers blood
sugar, decreases hypertension and strengthens
muscles including the heart.

• Cardiovascular fitness may be more important

than body weight in maintaining health.

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 WHY DO PEOPLE GET FAT?

• Overeating
• Availability of food
• Eating out
• Portion distortion
• Physical inactivity
• Genetics

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 PREFERENCE FOR HIGH-FAT FOODS
• Fat delivers 2 times than the calories of protein or
CHO

• Fat is stored preferentially by the body and with

great efficiency

• Of the 3 energy nutrients, fat stimulates the least

energy expenditure in diet thermogenesis.

• Of the 3 energy nutrients, fat is the least satiating

thus leading to overconsumption.

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 PHYSICAL INACTIVITY

• Overweight people spend more energy in daily activities

than normal weight people, however, engage in less
physical activity.

• Physical activity burns calories, builds lean tissue which

is more metabolically active so assists with weight loss.

• One study found that TV watching increases obesity in

children by 2% per hour of watching TV per day.

• One study found that watching TV expends less energy

than doing nothing!

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 GENETIC CAUSES
• Genetics affect tendency to obesity.

1 parent overweight -60% chance of offspring

becoming overweight.

2 parents overweight – 90% chance for offspring

• Supported by studies on twins raised apart, &

adopted children who weigh similar to biological
parents.

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 GENETIC FACTORS
• Leptin –protein that acts as hormone to increase
energy expenditure and decrease appetite.

• Ghrelin – protein that acts like hormone to

decrease energy expenditure and increase appetite

• Uncoupling proteins –white fat/brown fat

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 SET-POINT THEORY
• The theory that the body tends to maintain a
certain weight by means of its own internal
controls. Appetite and satiety regulators are
manipulated by the body to maintain a specific
weight.

Enzyme theory: LPL or lipoprotein

• lipase enables fat cells to store triglycerides.

Concentrations of LPL increase as fat cells become
enlarged with fat.

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 THANK YOU
Happy to answer if you have any questions?????

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