X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our fitness advice is expert-vetted. Our top picks are based on our editors’ independent research, analysis, and hands-on testing. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Knowing Your BMR Can Improve Your Chances of Losing Weight and More

Finding out your basal metabolic rate can be a stepping stone towards achieving your recomposition goals.

Giselle Castro-Sloboda Fitness and Nutrition Writer
I'm a Fitness & Nutrition writer for CNET who enjoys reviewing the latest fitness gadgets, testing out activewear and sneakers, as well as debunking wellness myths. On my spare time I enjoy cooking new recipes, going for a scenic run, hitting the weight room, or binge-watching many TV shows at once. I am a former personal trainer and still enjoy learning and brushing up on my training knowledge from time to time. I've had my wellness and lifestyle content published in various online publications such as: Women's Health, Shape, Healthline, Popsugar and more.
Expertise Fitness and Wellness
Giselle Castro-Sloboda
3 min read
Feet in red socks standing on a weight scale

If losing weight is your main goal, calculating your BMR is key.

Getty Images

If one of your goals is to lose body fat, gain muscle or even maintain your weight, you should know your basal metabolic rate, or BMR. Your BMR is the minimum number of calories that your body needs to function at rest. Overall your body needs a specific amount of energy to complete basic functions like breathing, your heart rate, digestion and regulating your hormone levels. The reason your BMR is a key factor is because it makes up about 60 to 75% of your daily energy expenditure

Your BMR is calculated based on several different factors that focus on your age, gender, current weight and activity level. Although BMR is not intended for  weight loss , the tool can show you information that can help you set a realistic caloric intake for yourself--whatever your goal may be.

Keep reading to learn more about BMR, how to calculate it and how it can be a guide for your nutrition and exercise goals. 

Screenshot of a BMR calculator

BMR calculators use several different factors, like age and gender, to determine your BMR.

Screenshot by Mercey Livingston/CNET

What is BMR and how do you find it?

Many people use BMR as a starting point to calculate their daily calorie needs and how to best adjust them to reach their goals. In fact, many macro calculators, like the popular IIFYM, incorporate BMR into their calculations for telling you about your calorie intake and macro needs based on your goals.

One common misconception about BMR is that it is the amount of calories your body burns at rest, but that is a different metric -- resting metabolic rate, or RMR. Your BMR is what energy your body needs to perform basic functions, while RMR is the amount of calories that your body burns while at rest. Some people use the measurements interchangeably, but they aren't necessarily the same thing. 

BMR calculators

There are many different calculators available online that can calculate your estimated BMR. Note that some of them will ask you to enter your body fat percentage, which many people do not know. If you don't, you can make an estimate or use the images provided (like IIFYM does) to guess. 

Some of the best BMR calculators:

BMR and TDEE 

Once you start learning about your BMR, you will likely also find information on total daily energy expenditure, or TDEE, since BMR is often calculated first to find TDEE. 

Your BMR tells you your calorie needs, when you take that number plus how much you burn every day during normal activity and exercise, you get your TDEE. So really, TDEE is the number that you work off of for figuring out how to adjust macros or calories for body composition goals, according to IIFYM

Watch this: How Healthy is Your Heart, Really? 5 Ways to Tell at Home

How to use your BMR to help you lose weight

Weight loss is tricky, but using calculators that factor in your BMR are helpful for taking a more customized approach for your calories and macronutrient needs. The way that most macros and BMR-based calculators work is by factoring in your TDEE with your goals. 

If you want to lose weight, you have to be in a calorie deficit, meaning the calculator will set your daily food intake to equal less calories than what you burn. Sometimes when you take an online quiz to find this number, you will be asked how fast you'd like to lose weight. Then the calorie deficit will be adjusted accordingly. The faster you want results, the more extreme you will have to be with cutting calories. But many experts say that slow and steady is optimal compared to trying to lose a lot of weight quickly. 

If you want to maintain your weight instead of lose or gain, then knowing your BMR and TDEE can help you know how many calories you should aim to consume each day to maintain your weight. On the flipside of weight loss is gaining muscle mass. This too requires that you strategically approach your nutrition and add calories into your day (likely in the form of protein and carbs) to make sure you can gain muscle. 

More for your health and wellness

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.