Final answer:
About 70 to 75 percent of our daily energy expenditure is due to the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the energy used by the body at rest to maintain basic life functions. BMR can vary with age, gender, weight, muscle mass, and body fat percentage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage of our daily energy expenditure that is a result of our basal metabolic rate (BMR) is significant. BMR describes the amount of daily energy expended by humans at rest and is essential for sustaining life's basic functions.
The energy required for these functions includes that which supports the organs in the body. It is estimated that approximately 70 to 75 percent of our daily energy expenditure is due to BMR. This includes energy used by the liver, spleen, and brain, which are the organs that consume the most energy at rest. Other factors such as physical activity and body thermoregulation account for the remainder of daily energy use.
It is important to understand that BMR varies based on factors like age, gender, total body weight, and lean muscle mass. For instance, athletes or more active individuals typically have a higher BMR due to more lean body mass. Conversely, BMR generally decreases with age as lean muscle mass decreases. Moreover, BMR can also be impacted by body fat percentage, with a lower body fat percentage resulting in a higher BMR.