Your BMR, or basal metabolic rate (metabolism), is the energy (measured in calories) expended by the body at rest to maintain normal bodily functions. This continual work makes up about 60-70% of the calories we use ("burn" or expend) and includes the beating of our heart, respiration, and the maintenance of body temperature. Your BMR is influenced by a number of factors, including age, weight, height, gender, environmental temperature, dieting, and exercise habits.

Because of the increased activity of cells undergoing division, the younger the person, the higher (faster) the metabolism. And the taller and heavier a person is, the faster their metabolism. Because of the greater percentage of lean muscle tissue in the male body, men generally have a 10-15% faster BMR than women. And when you go on restrictive, traditional diets, your BMR can drop by as much as 20%. People living in tropical or very cold environments generally have BMR's 5-20% higher than those living in more temperate climates. In general, depending on the intensity and duration, consistent exercise can also increase your BMR.

To estimate your BMR, please fill in the physical characteristics and click on Enter below:

Obviously, Your body "burns" more calories throughout the day than just the energy expended at rest to maintain normal bodily functions. Once you have calculated your BMR above, you can enter the average minutes you spend in a variety of activities each day. We have divided these into five levels from very light to very heavy. We have included a few examples of each category to allow you to gauge where a given activity might fit. The result is only an estimate, but should give you an idea of your daily caloric needs.

The BMR Calculator was originally developed by the University of Minnesota, Department of Rhetoric and was provided by GHF.

Disclaimer: The information given on the BMR Calculator is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice or treatment that may have been prescribed by your physician. Before adhering to any of this information or recommendations, you should consult with your physician. Understand that you are solely responsible for the way that this information is perceived and utilized, and do so at your own risk.