Dr. Andrei Simakov, a neurologist specializing in gastroenterology, reported that even at rest, the body burns up to 1800 calories for men and 1400 for women.
According to him, a person can spend the entire day in front of a laptop, rarely leaving the house, and yet burn more than a thousand calories.
He says, "Calories are primarily used to warm the body. Because humans are warm-blooded, this requires energy."
The specialist points out that even with low activity, humans maintain an active metabolism. Therefore, energy is consumed even by those who spend their entire day at home, even while lying on the sofa.
According to him, the common belief is that calorie burning increases significantly in cold weather. This isn't entirely true.
He says, "For calorie burning to increase significantly, a person would have to feel extremely cold, spend a lot of time outdoors, live in cold conditions, or wear inappropriate clothing. But most people live in heated apartments and houses."
Resting metabolic rate is calculated using equations that take into account sex, age, and weight. In younger years, calorie expenditure may be slightly higher because the body is still developing. After age 30, it may decrease, but a significant decline in metabolic rate typically begins after age 60.
He says: "When someone says their metabolic rate has started to decline with age, it doesn't always happen as drastically as they think. Statistically, the most noticeable decline begins at retirement age."
According to him, a man weighing around 80 kilograms can burn approximately 1700-1800 calories per day at rest. A woman weighing around 55 kilograms typically burns less—around 1300-1400 calories. If a person is more active, these figures increase according to their activity level. That is, with light exercise, the energy expenditure is low. But with regular training or physical work, it is higher.
Simakov points out that weight plays a role in the calculation. The greater the body mass, the more energy is required, even at rest. For example, if a man weighs 140 kilograms, his resting calorie consumption could reach 2600-2700 calories.
