Metabolic Rate
Definition
Metabolic rate is the speed at which an organism's body uses energy or burns calories.
Analogy
Consider metabolic rate as the speedometer in your car. Just as the speedometer shows how fast you're driving, metabolic rate indicates how quickly your body is using energy.
Related terms
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): This is the minimum metabolic rate needed to keep your body functioning while at rest - think of it as idling your car engine when parked.
Thermogenesis: The production of heat in organisms, akin to turning up the heater in a cold room.
Metabolism: The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism necessary for life - this can be compared with all the operations happening inside a factory.
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