The energy value of any food is measured in calories, and the basal metabolic rate is the minimum amount of calorie count that is required when the body is at rest (Resting Energy Expenditure). Combining it with the energy one consumes while moving around or digesting food gives us the total energy expenditure.

Our body energy needs are dependent on our age, height, weight, genetics and gender, apart from our daily activity.

• Certain medical conditions and general health also contribute as factors in our metabolic rate.
• The thyroid gland produces a chemical called ‘thyroxine’ which regulates a person’s basal metabolic rate.
• Depression, diabetes, fasting, having fever, low blood oxygen too play a huge factor in our caloric requirements and calorie expenditure

• For an average adult female, the estimated daily intake is 1600 to 2400 calories.
• For the average adult male, it is 2000 to 3000 calories per day.
• Children have a higher speed of metabolism, especially in stages of infancy.
• Two people of the same body type and weight can have a 30 percent variation in their caloric needs due to how much body movement happens during the day.