Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

ars13690 t1_j6hdext wrote

Reply to comment by Freedom-No-781 in ELI5 - When losing weight, why is it common to hear "burn more than you consume" in reference to calorie intake. if you consume" 1000 calories, how do you burn 1500? by Freedom-No-781

If you're an average sized person your basic bodily functions, heart beating, liver filtering, brain thinking, all use anywhere between 1500-2000 calories a day. Speaking from experience an overweight 6'5" man burns 2500 calories if i just sit in bed reading a book all day

1

Freedom-No-781 OP t1_j6hdoal wrote

So if said overweight 6'5 man just stayed in bed all day, and ate 1500 calories. He'd lose weight rapidly then? Even with no exercise?

4

Myrrmidonna t1_j6hn9ti wrote

He would, but his muscles would deteriorate from not being used, his metabolism would slow down and eventually his body would need much less calories, so he'd have to keep reducing the calories intake. In the end he'd become thin but very weak instead of fit, like a survivor of a long and heavy illness, and might have earned some ailments as a bonus.

3