Definition - What does Basal Energy Expenditure mean?
Basal energy expenditure (BEE) is a clinical metric that calculates the homeostatic conversion of calories necessary to sustain physiological functions and processes including blood circulation, breathing patterns, and intracellular growth and repair within a designated time frame of twenty-four hours. In measuring BEE, basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents the benchmark for assessing calories expended that contribute to the regulation and sustainability of the body’s vital organs following a period of fasting.
SureHire explains Basal Energy Expenditure
To collect BEE measurements, individuals undergo testing by having a technician monitor their biorhythms for eight hours in conjunction with a subsequent twelve-hour interval of fasting to compile biofeedback. Indirect calorimetry is the criterion used to gauge the proportionate amount of oxygen consumed against the carbon dioxide excreted from the body for interpretative analysis of an individual’s health. Incidentally, medical evidence supports BMR measurement as a reliable testing method in obtaining physiological data that corresponds to BEE expenditure of calories necessary for metabolic functionality.
BMR can serve as an effective means in achieving weight goals where distinct factors including age, gender, height, and current weight in tandem with caloric intake and physical activity levels represent an estimation of an individual’s health patterns that can fluctuate over time. For this reason, individuals who adopt a healthy diet regimen and exercise routine can influence the volatility of metabolism that is common for people as they age. Furthermore, a person’s gender reflects BEE deviations in terms of retaining lean muscle mass, since women tend to store more fat in certain areas as opposed to men.
In the workplace, wellness program initiatives are great opportunities to foster healthy lifestyles that target weight loss through proper nutrition and regular exercise to curb the obesity epidemic. Lean muscle mass can convert calories into energy at a comparatively faster rate than adipose tissue during circadian rhythm cycles, a contingent factor that can result in BEE anomalies. Because obesity can lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices can help regulate breathing cycles, modulating BMR values against the BEE index for optimal health.
