BMR stands for a basal metabolic rate, which is more commonly known as metabolism. BMR is actually energy measured in calories which your body burns at rest so that it may preserve normal bodily functions. Approximately 60 to 70% of the calories that we burn is a result of the body’s steady working motions, as well are our breathing, body temperature and the beating of our heart. There are different factors that effect our body’s BMR; these include our height, weight, gender, and diet and exercise, or lack of exercise, as well as the temperature of our environment. Increased activitity and cell division are two main reasons that a younger person’s metabolism will be faster. Also a taller and heavier person will usually have a faster metabolism than a person who is a normal height and weight. Men have a larger degree of lean muscle tissue than women, which gives them a faster metabolism than women.

Another effect on a person’s metabolism is their diet, which can effect it by as much as 20%. Even the climate a person lives in can affect the person’s BMR. The BMR of persons living in humid climates or extremely cold climates is 5-20% greater than it is for those who live in moderate climates. Therefore, one could conclude that you burn more calories if you are uncomfortably hot or uncomfortably cold.

Most of us are able to control the amount of exercise in which we take part, therefore, you may increase your BMR by exercising. This is just one more reason why people should take part in a healthy exercise program.