Basal Metabolic Rate
Semaglutide (known by the brand name "Wegovy") is our main product used to treat obesity at Dorset Weight Loss. Semaglutide works by making you feel fuller for longer, allowing you to reduce the total amount of food consumed in a day.
What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
When it comes to losing weight, one key player often overlooked is your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). But what exactly is BMR, and why does it matter in your weight loss journey?
Think of BMR as the energy your body uses to keep the essential functions running while you're at rest – like breathing, circulating blood, and producing cells. It's the energy your body needs even when you're not doing anything.
Understanding BMR is like learning the language of your body's energy needs. It tells you the minimum calories your body requires to function at rest. This isn't just a number; it's a vital clue in customising your weight loss plan. By knowing your BMR, you can make your weight loss journey more effective and lasting. In this guide, we'll explore why BMR matters and how medications like semaglutide and liraglutide can work hand in hand with this knowledge to help you on your path to overcoming obesity and shedding those extra pounds.
How does knowing my BMR help me in losing weight?
First and foremost, knowing your BMR helps demystify the calorie game. By understanding the baseline energy your body needs, you can establish a more accurate and realistic daily calorie target. This isn't about restrictive diets; it's about creating a sustainable and balanced plan that fuels your body adequately while promoting weight loss. Think of it as finding the sweet spot – not too much, not too little, but just right.
Furthermore, awareness of your BMR empowers you to make informed choices about nutrition and exercise. You can gauge how different foods and activities impact your calorie balance, enabling you to make adjustments that align with your weight loss goals. It's like having a personalized manual for your body, allowing you to optimize your efforts for maximum impact.
Lets take two patients:
Patient A is a 35 year old female who leads a relatively active lifestyle. She weighs 89kg and is 1.62m tall.
Patient B is a 45 year old male who works a sedentary office job. He weighs 105kg and is 1.78m tall.
Patient A = 1642 Kcals per day
Patient B = 2097 Kcals per day
These figures represent the Basal Metabolic Rate of each individuals, i.e, the number of calories they need to consume to maintain their bodyweight if they were to do nothing but stay in bed all day. We can see how each individual needs different calorie intakes.
However, we burn calories by moving and exercising. Both of these individuals lead different lifestyles, with Patient A being far more active than Patient B, so we can average how many calories they need to consume in order to maintain their bodyweight.
Patient A = 2545 Kcals per day
Patient B = 2516 Kcals per day
So just by being more active, patient A is burning almost 900 Kcals extra per day, whilst Patient B's sedentary lifestyle sees him burning less than 500 Kcals extra in a day.
BMR
Basal Metabolic Rate - A way of calculating how many calories it takes to maintain your essential functions without losing weight.
How its calculated
We use a modified version of a calculation called the "Harris-Benedict Equation"
How it helps
Every person has a different BMR. By factoring in your activity levels, we can create an average daily energy consumption for you to target for weight loss
What does this mean for me?
At every appointment, we will calculate your BMR and your maintenance calories, and use this to guide your diet and exercise goals. There is no "one size fits all" process here - everything is customised to you. This allows us to take out the guesswork.
We can also use this to optimise your diet. No more fad diets or extreme nutrition advice - we simply calculate your calorie consumption, then cut it back enough to promote lasting, healthy weight loss.
Exercise becomes a strategic tool rather than a guessing game. Your BMR guides you in understanding how different activities impact your calorie balance. This insight empowers you to choose exercises that align with your goals, making your workouts more purposeful and effective.
Weight loss is not just about shedding pounds temporarily; it's about long-term success. Your BMR is a constant, providing a stable foundation for your journey. This knowledge helps you build habits that are sustainable, ensuring that the progress you make is not only significant but lasting.
