How Many Calories I Consume at Rest: Basal and Its Impact on Well-Being

The concept of calorie consumption is crucial when it comes to understanding our metabolism and how our body burns energy. Our bodies consume calories even while standing still or sleeping in order to maintain body temperature, for internal organ activity, particularly of the brain and heart, and for breathing.
Caloric consumption at rest, also known as basal metabolism, is an important aspect in assessing our daily needs. Basal metabolism indicates the number of calories our body burns while at rest, i.e. when we are not doing any physical activity. By adding this to the consumption for extra activities such as sports or work (but also simple digestion) we can estimate our total calorie consumption.
Basal metabolism varies from person to person and depends on several factors, including age, gender, body weight and body composition. To better understand this concept, let’s look at the amount of calories men and women consume at rest.

Studies on basal metabolic rate: difference between men and women

Studies have shown that men tend to have a higher basal metabolic rate than women. This is partly due to the fact that men tend to have more muscle mass and less body fat than women. As a result, men burn more calories even when they are at rest.
However, for both men and women, resting calorie consumption can account for a significant percentage of total daily calorie consumption. For example, the basal metabolic rate may account for about 60-75% of the total calories burned in a day.

Formulas for calculating basal metabolism

But how exactly is resting calorie consumption calculated? The most common formula used is the Harris-Benedict equation, which takes into account factors such as age, gender, body weight and height. New methods and formulas are, however, being evaluated and discussed regarding BMR. Here is the formula for calculating basal metabolic rate:

For men

Basal Metabolism (kcal/day) = 88.362 + (13.397 x weight in kg) + (4.799 x height in cm) – (5.677 x age in years)

For women

Basal Metabolism (kcal/day) = 447,593 + (9,247 x weight in kg) + (3,098 x height in cm) – (4,330 x age in years)
It is important to emphasise that this is only a rough estimate of resting calorie consumption and that significant individual variations may occur.
In conclusion, resting calorie consumption is a fundamental aspect of our metabolism and can have a significant impact on our overall well-being. Understanding how much we consume at rest can help us plan a healthy diet and lifestyle, thus contributing to maintaining a balanced body weight and optimal health.