RESTING METABOLIC RATE

RESTING METABOLIC RATE TESTING- COST $50 for current clients, base $150

Call our office to schedule 316-768-1900

Whether your goal is to lose, gain, or maintain your weight, knowing the amount of energy your body uses at rest will help you to personalize your diet and exercise plan. Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) is determines 70% of the calories that your body uses on a daily basis when it is at rest. Two people with the same weight and height can have very different metabolic rates and energy (caloric) needs. The RMR is influenced by your age, gender, the amount of body fat and muscle you have, the amount of exercise you do, your hormones, as well as by a number of environmental factors like smoking and climate. Our RMR machine also measures for expired gas exchange analysis (VO2, VCO2) which can indicate your ratio of fat to carb burn.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Purpose: The Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test is performed to estimate the amount of energy that your body naturally burns in one day.

Why is this important: Whether your goal is to lose, gain, or maintain your weight, this information is extremely valuable for designing a personalized weight management program. Knowing the amount of energy you use at rest will help you better understand the amount of energy you need from food.

Who should consider this test: Testing the metabolism is perfect for anyone who is trying to lose weight. It can be especially helpful if you have a medical history of:

  • Diabetes

  • Thyroid dysfunction

  • Menopause

  • Fatigue (Tired)

  • Failed weight loss attempts

  • Lost weight and then regained it.

You should consider the resting metabolic rate test if you want to

  • Pinpoint the precise number of calories crucial to losing weight.

  • Understand why you have had frustrated attempts to lose weight.

  • Conquer plateaus in weight loss.

  • See how efficient your body is using sugar or fat as fuel.

HOW ACCURATE IS THIS TEST?

This RMR test uses a state-of-the-art indirect caliometry machine for expired gas exchange analysis (VO2, VCO2). It is highly accurate and has been widely used and recognized as the gold standard for metabolic measurement in applied human physiology assessment and research.

If you use standardized calculation diet apps like Fitness pal or found online elsewhere, then those can overestimate or underestimate metabolic rate by up to 1000 calories/day.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE APPOINTMENT?

The duration of the appointment is about 60 minutes. The RMR test only takes only 10 minutes . The results are nearly instant after the testing is completed.

During the test you will sit comfortably in a chair and breath in and out of a tube with your normal breathing pattern. This is not typically uncomfortable. You should remain still, relaxed and as comfortable as possible without falling asleep.

The results of the test may be inaccurate if pre-test procedures are not properly followed.

WHAT IS THE TEST PROTOCOL?

Prior to your RMR test, there are a few important things to note:

  • You must complete a 12-hour fast overnight, prior to your RMR test.

  • e.g. If your appointment is at 8am, you must only drink water after 8pm the evening before.

  • You must not consume alcohol or caffeine 12 hours prior to the test.

  • You must avoid moderate and vigorous exercise at least 24 hours prior to the test.

  • Your commute to the office should be relatively stress free, so plan extra time!

  • Avoid brisk walking, running or taking a lot of stairs.

  • Failure to meet these standards may result in an inaccurate result.

  • Attire for the test: No specific attire is required.

HOW DO I GET MY RESULTS?

The clinician provides a state of the art complete analysis to you within 24 hours that includes an interpretation of the numbers for your unique biology and application to your diet and exercise plan. Your report will include your results and even detail out all of the information for your diet and exercise plan. Your report tells you:

  1. Number of calories that your body burns in a 24 hour period and whether that number is fast, average, or slow.

  2. How many calories to eat every day to achieve your weight loss in pounds in the given amount of time that you want.

  3. How much activity and exercise to do that will change your calorie estimates in your plan.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The resting metabolic rate test costs $80 for our patients at a routine office visit and $110 for anyone who is not a patient and would like the testing as part of their “do-it-yourself” weight loss plan. At other places, the cost of this same test runs between $150-$220. We offer the test at a fraction of the cost and if you purchase 3 sessions, you get $50 off!

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE

WHAT MAKES ONE’S METABOLISM “FASTER” OR “SLOWER”?

  • The metabolic rate declines with age because of loss of skeletal mass in increased percentage of fat tissue.

  • Your RMR depends on the amount of fat you have. If your body fat percentage is high, your RMR might be lower than that of an individual with a lower body fat percentage.

  • The RMR is lower in women than in men, mostly because men, on average, have a greater muscle mass and a lower body-fat percentage than women.

  • A smaller body requires fewer calories to maintain the same physiological functions, whereas a larger body requires more calories. Also, during weight loss your body may try to conserve energy in response to a lower calorie intake, this can also cause a reduction in RMR.

  • Taller people typically have greater body surface area and more lean body mass. As a result, they can have a higher RMR.

  • For every increase of 0.5 degrees C in internal temperature of the body, the RMR increases by about 7 percent. Therefore, a person with a fever of 42 degrees C (about 4 degrees C above normal) would have an increase of about 50 percent in RMR.

  • Starvation or serious abrupt calorie-reduction can dramatically reduce the RMR by up to 30 percent. Likewise, restrictive, low-calorie weight-loss diets may cause the RMR to drop by as much as 20 percent

  • Physical exercise not only influences body weight by burning calories, it also helps raise RMR by building extra muscle. The greater the exercise intensity, the longer it takes the body to recover, which results in a longer and higher excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)

  • Temperature outside the body affects the resting metabolic rate. Exposure to cold temperature causes an increase in the RMR, as the body tries to create the extra heat needed to maintain its internal temperature. A short exposure to hot temperature has little effect on the body’s metabolism because of compensatory increases in heat loss. However, prolonged exposure to heat can raise the RMR.

  • Some people are born with faster metabolisms, while others naturally have slower metabolisms.

  • Some hormones can increase or decrease metabolic rate. For instance, the thyroid hormones regulate a portion of metabolism. An individual who has hypothyroidism can have a low RMR.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT