Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Metabolic rate is the speed at which an organism's body uses energy or burns calories.
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.
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.