Alcohol provides almost as much energy as fat. For some people alcoholic drinks form a large part of their energy intake. This can be harmful to health since a high alcohol consumption is a risk factor for several diseases. BMR is measured when a person is at complete rest, and varies from person to person both within a population group and between different groups. Infants and young children have a proportionately high BMR for their size due to their rapid growth and development.
Men usually have a higher BMR than women since they tend to have more muscle.
Older adults usually have a lower BMR than the young since the amount of muscle tends to decrease with age. The BMR accounts on average for about three quarters of an individual's energy needs. The total amount of energy required by individuals depends on the level of activity and on their body weight. The more active and heavier they are, the more energy they require. Table 1 shows the energy used up in various activities.