Basal Metabolic Rate is the energy your body needs for basic functions — breathing, circulation, cell production — while completely at rest. It accounts for the majority of most people's daily calorie burn. The Mifflin-St Jeor equation is the most accurate common way to estimate it from your age, sex, height and weight. Multiplying BMR by an activity factor gives your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE).
Key points
- Calories burned at complete rest
- Largest part of daily energy use
- Estimated via Mifflin-St Jeor equation
- BMR × activity factor = TDEE