Which group has a higher metabolic rate?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Regular exercise increases lean (metabolically active) muscle and raises resting energy expenditure, so people who exercise regularly tend to have a higher metabolic rate.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is largely determined by lean body mass, age, sex, hormones, and genetics. BMR typically accounts for the majority of daily energy expenditure.
- Muscle tissue has a higher resting energy cost than fat; thus greater muscle mass → higher metabolic rate.
- Physical activity increases total daily energy expenditure directly and can raise resting metabolism via increased muscle mass and post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).
- Weight loss often reduces BMR (loss of lean mass and adaptive metabolic downregulation).

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- Regular exercise (especially resistance training) stimulates muscle hypertrophy and preserves lean mass.
- Increased lean mass raises the baseline number of calories required at rest, so exercisers have higher BMR than sedentary individuals with less muscle.
- Exercise also produces transient increases in energy use after workouts (EPOC), adding to daily energy expenditure.
- Conversely, sedentary lifestyle → less muscle and lower resting energy needs.
- Women, on average, have lower BMR than men because they generally have less lean mass and different hormone profiles—not higher metabolic rate.
- People with a history of weight loss commonly experience a reduced BMR from lean mass loss and metabolic adaptation, making their metabolic rate lower, not higher.

3) Intermediate/calculation steps
- No numerical calculation required here; reasoning is comparative and based on physiology: more muscle → higher kcal/day at rest.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- “People who exercise on a regular basis” have increased lean mass and repeated energetic demands that elevate both resting and total metabolic rates, so they have the higher metabolic rate compared to the other groups.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- Sedentary people: lower muscle mass → lower metabolic rate.
- Women vs men: women generally have lower BMR than men for the reasons above.
- People with history of weight loss: often have reduced BMR due to loss of lean mass and metabolic adaptation.

6) Conclusion
This confirms the correct answer: people who exercise on a regular basis.

Which group has a higher metabolic rate?Single choice

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