Has anyone ever had metabolic testing?

Posts: 999 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Is this the same as all of the online caclulators or is there something custom/unique when you get this done? Worth the $$?

A local gym in my area is offering:

Trainer/Nutritionist

The RMR (resting metoblic rate) is how many calories you would burn if you were to do nothing but rest for 24 hours.

Professional Measurements for Weight Loss & Maintenance

•RMR, BMI, and Target caloric intake
•Unique printout with results and interpretation
•Self calibrating to ensure accuracy
The MetaCheck™ is an affordable system that provides accurate, professional quality metabolic rate measurements. In the past, these measurements have only been available by using cumbersome, expensive equipment, and were generally only available at hospitals. Today the MetaCheck™ provides the same critical data with just a simple 10 minute breath test at a fraction of the cost.

$55 for the Metabolic Testing

This will be an hour long. Devoted to the RMR and the results of the test, as well as a nutritional consult, regarding your specific goals.

$30 for a follow up RMR only.

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Replies

  • Posts: 9,248 Member
    I'd do it for that price. The proper RMR testing will measure your oxygen use while resting. For $55 I'd love to know what my BMR really was (who knows, you may be one of the people that fits the mathematical models the online calculators use but at least you'd be making future decisions based on hard data)
  • Posts: 8,281 Member
    Does the price include the cost of the disposable mouthpiece/hose? It looks like you need a new one each time. Just double-check that the price includes that cost.

    From what I read, the method analyzes inspired oxygen, but not expired carbon dioxide. This can affect the accuracy of the results--whether or not that's significant I can't really say. I couldn't find a whole lot of research on the device.

    The question of whether or not it's more accurate is an interesting one. It may be "more accurate", but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be "different". From what I have seen, there is not as much variation in resting metabolism in the average population. I ran into this when I researched a different testing device and considered doing this kind of thing myself.

    For $55, it's a decent value, and it will probably be an interesting experience. I would not be surprised if the results were not hugely different from something like Harris-Benedict calculations -- but that's not the fault of the machine, and like Brian said, it would give you more confidence in your numbers. (I did a test on a better-quality system and it matched by calculated number exactly).

    I'd be a lot more wary of the spiel you will get from the alleged "trainer/nutritionist" than the test itself.
  • Posts: 999 Member
    The nutritionist/trainer is a Registered Dietician and an ACE certified trainer. So that gives me some confidence.
  • Posts: 353 Member
    I had it done and learned a lot. Because of my age, the online calculators list my BMR at 1430. My actual RMR, because I'm more fit than your average 51 year old, was 1613. It was really easy I just sat quietly in a chair with a mask over my face for 15 minutes. The one question I can't find an answer to is how to use my RMR to calculate my BMR. Technically, they are different. The BMR would have to be tested while you were sleeping (as opposed to just resting "resting metabolic rate") and would seemingly be slightly lower than the RMR.

    I say go for it. You can never have too much information.
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