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Issue with Resting Calory count - Basal Metabolic Rate

Former Member over 8 years ago

I've had a VivoActive HR and Garmin connect App for about two weeks now.

Over the first 8 full days of usage, the resting calorie count (i.e. basal metabolic rate) given to me by Garmin Connect was 2,065 calories, which seemed to be spot on with the number calculated by numerous BMR online calculators; that is as a fucntion of gender, age, height and weight. The number given by these calculators to me is a very consitent 2,072 calories per day; so I was very happy until June 14.

As of June 15th, the number given to me by GC misteriously went up to 2,519 and have repeated that same number ever since with no apparent reason; no changes in weight or level of activity.

I read some threads that say that the activity level number may need to be adjusted, so I have tried adjusting from the initial setting I had it at which was 4, to then 3 and now 2 (waiting at least a full day in between adjustments) with no apparent change to the 2,519 BMR number I now get.

Does anyone know what may be causing the problem and how it may be corrected?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

It was intentional by Garmin.

I reported this problem in a different thread. Eventually a moderator responded here: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?354006-2-60-update-F-over-anyone-else-s-calorie-data-BMR-up-20&p=864127#post864127

The change in the BMR values was added in the 2.60 update. Increases around 20% are to be expected. This was done to improve the accuracy of these values based on previous feedback. Our apologies for this not being listed in the change log when updating.

I opened a case disputing this item as it makes no sense to anyone who understands the meaning of BMR- as you do fig.

Although I do not have a definitive answer yet that makes sense, they have responded to my case saying that it was intentional, that increasing 20% to BMR was in line with industry standard..and a bunch of other stuff that is simply incorrect by any measure.

I *believe* but am only 95% sure since we were trading messages, that they did NOT reduce active measurement in response. THey boosted BMR 20 to 25% because they felt BMR was 20 or 25% low as they measured it (as described above and more reasons I haven't transcribed yet.

If I understand their private response - imagine a hypothetical day and the measurement before the software update and after. If before it showed a burn of 1800 BMR and 1200 active for 3000 total, after the update it would show (for a 100% identical day) ~2160 BMR cal and 1200 active for 3360 total.

I Find that hard to believe since I felt they were already over-counting calories a bit..and this means they think they were actually UNDER!

I suggest you open your own case OP- as the more pressure applied perhaps they see the light.