If you’re trying to lose weight during the holidays or planning for the New Year, one thing to consider is checking your metabolic rate. While you can’t blame your metabolism for things not going right, doing this test can help you better understand it to help you reach your weight loss goal.
The RMR test helps you learn more about your metabolism and your metabolic rate, which is the rate at which metabolism occurs. In this article, we’ll provide you with the information you need to understand what the RMR metabolic health test is.
RMR Metabolic Health Test Defined
Metabolism is the energy required for bodily functions needed to live. It is a chemical reaction in the body’s cells that turns food into energy. Our bodies need this energy to do everything from thinking to growing.
Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the amount of calories your body burns while at rest. It is one of three components comprising your total metabolic rate, which comprises 70% of your body’s energy. The RMR metabolic health test is noninvasive and determines your RMR.
How Does the RMR Metabolic Health Test Work?
Before taking the RMR metabolic health test, you should fast for at least six hours and be well-rested and relaxed. During the test, you’ll lie in a chair and breathe into a tube connected to a computer. The computer then details the composition of your breath to determine your oxygen consumption. This helps measure the rate at which you consume energy, which is your RMR.
Then, experts add another 20 percent to the number of calories burned during regular activity and an additional 10 percent to the average one burns just digesting food. Dietitians can then use your total metabolic rate to create a diet and exercise plan to help you lose or maintain weight.
Example of Importance of RMR Metabolic Health Test
For example, if your total metabolic rate is 2,500, you would be in balance if you consume 2,500 calories a day, not gaining or losing weight. But, if you are trying to lose weight, you must consume less than 2,500 calories.
If you are trying to do this, most dietitians will recommend a 500-calorie deficiency, which equates to losing one point a week. You can create this deficit by eating 500 calories less daily or burning calories through exercise.
What Does the RMR Metabolic Health Test Tell You?
Along with your RMR, the test also tells you your respiratory quotient (RQ). This shows you the percentage of your metabolism you burn regarding carbohydrates vs. fat. It can help your dietitian with planning your diet in terms of knowing whether you should eat more carbs or fat.
The RMR metabolic health test should be taken more than once and can be taken every three to six months if you are trying to lose weight.
Dietitian For All uses a comprehensive metabolic test template to maximize the benefits of your diet.
As a registered dietitian and nutritionist with more than a decade of experience, I understand the power of personal transformation and the importance of sustainable lifestyle changes.
During my own personal and health journey, I discovered the benefits of functional medicine and the importance of testing beyond basic blood work. At Dietitian for All, I incorporate science and history to create personalized treatment plans for optimal health. I invite you to explore the ever-changing realm of personal health and wellness with me and take control of your unique biological individuality, starting with a RMR metabolic health test.