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SANutritionQuick questions
Topic 1: Principles of Human Nutrition
Quick questions on Energy metabolism and BMR (SACE Stage 2 Nutrition)
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is body size and composition?Show answer
Larger bodies use more energy. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat, so a person with more muscle has a higher BMR even at the same weight. This is why building muscle through activity raises resting energy use.
What is age?Show answer
BMR is high during growth, peaks in youth, and tends to fall with age as muscle mass declines, which links to lower energy needs in older adults.
What is sex?Show answer
Males on average have more muscle and less fat than females, giving a somewhat higher BMR.
What are hormones?Show answer
The thyroid hormone thyroxine controls metabolic rate; an overactive thyroid raises BMR and an underactive thyroid lowers it.
What are other factors?Show answer
Fever, stress, cold environments, pregnancy and growth all raise energy use. Strict dieting can lower BMR as the body conserves energy.
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