A new study published in Nature Metabolism (pdf) has revealed that the basal metabolic rate (BMR) in people in the United States and Europe has decreased over the past three decades, potentially contributing to the growing obesity epidemic in both regions.
Basal metabolic rate, or basal energy expenditure, refers to the energy required per unit of time for the body to maintain vital functions such as breathing, blood circulation, and maintaining body temperature. Put simply, BMR is the number of calories the body burns while at rest. BMR is one component in the body’s total energy expenditure. The other is activity expenditure, the number of calories burned during physical activity, such as running or walking….