BMR:
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the
amount of energy that the body requires at
complete rest in order to maintain its basic
functions (e.g. if you were to lie in bed for 24
hours). This value essentially depends on
weight, height and age. The diagnostic scale
displays this in kcal/day and calculates it us-
AMR
The active metabolic rate (AMR) is the
amount of energy required daily by the body
in its active state. The energy consumption of
a human being rises with increasing physical
activity and is measured on the diagnostic
scale in relation to the degree of activity en-
tered (1-5).
To maintain your existing weight, the amount
of energy used must be reintroduced into the
body in the form of food and drink. If less en-
Results in relation to time
Remember that only long-term trends are important. Short-term fluctuations in
weight over a few days are usually the result of a loss of fluid.
The interpretation of the results will depend
on changes in your overall weight and body
fat, body water and muscle percentages, as
well as on the period during which these
changes take place. Sudden changes within
days must be distinguished from medium
term changes (over weeks) and long term
changes (months).
A basic rule is that short term changes in
weight almost exclusively represent changes
in water content, whereas medium and long
term changes may also involve the fat and
muscle percentages.
If your weight reduces over the short
term, but your body fat percentage in-
creases or remains the same, you have
merely lost water – e.g. after a training
session, sauna session or a diet re-
stricted only to rapid weight loss.
ing the scientifically recognised Harris Bene-
dict formula. This is the amount of energy that
your body requires as an absolute minimum
which must be supplied to the body in the
form of food. If you consume less energy than
this in the long term, it can have a detrimental
effect on your health.
ergy is introduced than is used over a longer
period of time, your body will obtain the differ-
ence largely from the amount of fat stored
and your weight will decrease. If, on the other
hand, over a longer period of time more en-
ergy is introduced than the total active meta-
bolic rate (AMR) calculated, your body will be
unable to burn off the excess energy, and the
excess will be stored in the body as fat and
your weight will increase.
If your weight increases over the me-
dium term and the body fat percentage
falls or stays the same, then you could
have built up valuable muscle mass.
If your weight and body fat percentage fall
simultaneously then your diet is working –
you are losing fat mass.
Ideally you should support your diet with
physical activity, fitness or power train-
ing. This way you can increase your
muscle percentage over the medium
term.
Body fat, body water or muscle percent-
ages should not be added (certain ele-
ments of muscle tissue also contain bo-
dy water).
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