Even the most sedentary person will use a significant amount of calories. Calories are a measurement of energy. The more energy you expend, the more calories you will burn. The amount of calories you use each day is determined by your gender, age, activity level and weight. On average, you may burn about 1,500 to 3,000 calories daily.
Function
There are three factors that determine the amount of calories our bodies use: the basal metabolic rate, activity level and the thermic effect of food. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimum amount of calories needed to perform the most basic functions, such as pumping blood and breathing. Your activity level includes the amount of exercise you get. The thermic effect of food is the amount of calories your body needs to process food.
BMR
The BMR can be responsible for about 70 percent of the calories you burn daily. It is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Activity Level
Your activity level generally accounts for about 20 percent of your total calorie expenditure.
Thermic Effect of Food
The thermic effect of food--such as biting, chewing, swallowing and processing food--accounts on average for about 10 percent of your total calorie expenditure.
Weight Loss
If your goal is to lose weight, you must use more calories than you consume. To lose a pound a week, you must burn 500 more calories a day more than you eat, either by eating less or exercising more. You can use online calculators to help you determine how many calories you burn during certain activities.
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