8
GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL SYSTEM
8
GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL SYSTEM
Did
you know the average adult
consumes about a million calories in food
each year?
Despite such a staggering number, some
healthy people are able to maintain a stable
body weight for years and decades—and
they do so without much conscious eort
by adhering to the tried-and-true method
based on matching energy expenditure with
caloric consumption.
Do the math
To achieve balance, you need to know the
number of calories in the food you eat
(“calories in”). But you also need to know
how much energy your body is using each
day in physical activity, in food digestion
and at rest (“calories out”).
When “calories in” equals “calories out,”
a state of energy balance is achieved and
body weight remains constant. When
“calories in” exceed “calories out,” body
weight and body fat increase. Without
adjusting food intake amounts, most adults
will experience small but consistent gains in
body weight over the years.
Resting metabolism varies from one
person to the next. Knowing your resting
metabolic rate (RMR) provides important
information helpful in understanding your
body’s overall daily energy needs.
A special test available at Georgetown
Hospital System’s HealthPoint – Center for
Health and Fitness can help assess your
resting metabolism.
“Knowing your resting metabolic rate
can be key to achieving and maintaining
a healthy weight,” says Kevin Conlon,
HealthPoint’s general manager. “Everyone
is dierent. To manage and maintain your
weight, you need to understand where the
balance point is on the ‘calories in,’ ‘calories
out’ continuum.”
Analyze this!
A metabolic assessment analyzes the
volume of oxygen consumed and the
volume of carbon dioxide produced in a
controlled setting. is information helps
determine the type of fuels your body is
using resulting in a metabolic pro
le.
An RMR assessment measures the
amount of energy used at rest. e RMR
is then adjusted by an activity factor to
produce the amount of calories you use
in a typical day.
University-trained exercise physiologists
conduct the resting metabolic assessment
at HealthPoint – Center for Health and
Fitness. e assessment involves two
separate appointments, followed by data
analysis, client review, suggestions and
plans for caloric adjustments, metabolism
increase, and establishing goals. A follow-up
RMR is encouraged every two years to
establish new baselines and goals.
KNOW YOUR
Key to weight-loss and maintenance success
RMR
For more
information about the RMR or to
schedule an appointment to discuss
the test with an exercise physiologist,
call HealthPoint – Center for Health
and Fitness in Pawleys Island at
.
NUTRITION
8
GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL SYSTEM