Final answer:
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) affects how primates, including humans, process energy from food, influencing dietary needs and weight management. The body adjusts BMR in response to changes in food intake and external factors, impacting how effectively the body loses or gains weight. Exercise plays a crucial role in increasing the metabolic rate and contributing to weight loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) significantly influences the diets of primates, including the human species. The BMR is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, and it represents the minimum energy requirement needed to sustain the body's basic functions at rest. In primates, the BMR affects how food energy is utilized for basic bodily functions, with about 75% of food calories going towards maintaining these functions.
When there's a change in energy intake, such as during a diet, the body adjusts its BMR as a response. For instance, starvation or severe calorie reduction can reduce the BMR by a significant percentage. This adaptive response means that after the first major diet, subsequent diets may be less effective because the body becomes more conservative with energy, lowering the BMR to conserve energy, resulting in less fat being burned. External factors like temperature can also affect BMR; exposure to cold increases it, which in turn affects dietary needs.
A higher BMR means that an organism will require more energy, and thus more food, to maintain its weight. Conversely, a lower BMR means less energy is needed, affecting an organism's food requirements accordingly. Exercise increases the metabolic rate beyond the BMR, aiding in weight loss, despite the body's generally low efficiency in converting internal energy to work. Thus, exercise is a critical component in managing weight since it can increase metabolic rate and energy expenditure.