Health and Fitness Information Center

Metabolic Age, Part 1

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Metabolic age versus chronological age
What is metabolic age and how does it differ from chronological age? Chronological age is your age in calendar years. Metabolic age is a number that comes from comparing your Basal Metabolic Rate with the Basal Metabolic Rate average of your chronological age group. Depending on how you compare you are assigned a metabolic age number that can be lower or higher than your chronological age. A metabolic age number younger than your chronological age generally means that you are fitter and in better health than the average, the lower the age the better in shape you are. An older metabolic age points towards being less healthy and fit than your peers and if it’s much older than your chronological age, this should be considered a wake-up call.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Your BMR is a measurement of your body’s use of energy and is usually interpreted as the minimum level of calories your body needs in it’s resting state (including sleeping) each day. The generic formula for figuring out BMR is based on gender, age, height, and weight.

It is preferable, though, to use a formula that also takes into account activity level and amount of body fat versus lean mass. Using them in the equation will help give you a more accurate picture as they can dramatically decrease or increase the number of calories needed each day and play a large role in overall health.

Related Products

• Metabolic Chemistry Panel for use with the CardioChek PA System
• Body Fat Scales