Resistance Training And Its Effect On Resting Metabolic Rate

The incidence of obesity has increased over the past several decades. In the United States, 68% of adults are either overweight or obese, and 33% of the population is obese (Miller et al., 2012). Obesity is associated with comorbidities such as hypertension, type I and II diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. The incidence of obesity and its comorbidities can be prevented and modified with the identification of certain risk factors such as low levels of physical activity and decreased energy expenditure that predispose an individual to obesity. The following research addresses resting metabolic rate (RMR), its effects on caloric balance, and the effects of physical activity. This review of†¦show more content†¦The thermic effect of food is the energy expenditure associated with food digestion and absorption, accounting for 10% of total energy expenditure. Activity thermogenesis is the energy expenditure during activity and contributes to 15-30% of total energy expenditure (Levine, 2005). The component of total energy expenditure that an individual can alter the most is activity thermogenesis by increasing ones physical activity levels, allowing for a greater total of large muscle movements (Akbulut Rakicioglu, 2011). For activity to occur, the body must supply the muscles with adenosine triphosphate, ATP, which is a form of energy that allows processes such as muscle contraction to occur. Calorie expenditure is needed to produce ATP. Energy expenditure during exercise is increased by lengthening the duration and increasing the intensity of exercise (Levine, 2005). The third component of total energy expenditure is BMR. BMR is an individual†™s energy expenditure at complete rest and typically is measured directly after an individual wakes up in the morning. BMR accounts for approximately 60%-75% of total energy expenditure (Visser, Duerenberg, Staveren, Hautvast, 1995). Resting and basal metabolic rate are similar and often are used interchangeably. BMR requires the subject to spend the night in a hospital or laboratory. It is measured first thing in