Basal metabolic rate
Basal metabolic rate ( BMR ) is the rate of energy expenditure per unit time by endothermic animals at rest. [1] It is reported in energy units per unit time ranging from watt (joule/second) to ml O 2 /min or joule per hour per kg body mass J/(h·kg). Proper measurement requires a strict set of criteria be met. These criteria include being in a physically and psychologically undisturbed state, in a thermally neutral environment, while in the post-absorptive state (i.e., not actively digesting food). [1] In bradymetabolic animals, such as fish and reptiles, the equivalent term standard metabolic rate ( SMR ) is used. It follows the same criteria as BMR, but requires the documentation of the temperature at which the metabolic rate was measured. This makes BMR a variant of standard metabolic rate measurement that excludes the temperature data, a practice that has led to problems in defining "standard" rates of metabolism for many mammals. [1] Metabolism comprises the proc...