A: The number of calories burned each day varies from person to person and is dependent on many factors.
The first factor is a persons Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). BMR is the number of calories burned at rest to maintain normal bodily functions.
A persons BMR is influenced by the following:
- Body size and composition - People who are larger, taller or naturally carry more muscle tend to burn more calories.
- Gender - Men typically carry more muscle mass than women thus, have a higher BMR.
- Age - As people age, the amount of muscle mass typically decreases and fewer calories are burned.
Beyond BMR, what other factors influence the number of calories burned each day?
- Strength training – Increases a persons lean muscle mass which requires more energy than fat to sustain itself causing a person to burn more daily calories. Muscle development also counteracts the effects of aging described above.
- Daily routine - Daily activities that keep you physically active will help you burn more calories.
- Aerobic exercise - Walking, running, swimming, etc.
- Eating habits – Start every day with a healthy breakfast. When you sleep, your metabolism slows down and breakfast primes your metabolism for the day. Regular healthy meals and snacks through out the day help maintain an elevated metabolic rate ward off cravings, binge eating, and a lowering of a persons metabolism into conservation mode.
Are there ways to calculate the number of calories burned based on activity level? Yes, but the calculators rarely take a persons body composition into account. A persons body composition must be considered to accurately calculate the calories burned during activities.