Weight Management and HRM

The use of a heart rate monitor allows many people to manage their weight, which is obviously an important health concern. For athletes it’s vital to success in competition. Too low a weight and they may be missing out on vital horsepower in their sport, and too high a weight and they may be left behind. There’s a simple equation (often overlooked) that can be used to effectively manage weight:

Energy intake = Energy output

Tipping this balance in either direction could result in weight being lost or gained, and the extent of either depends on the amount by which the equilibrium is disturbed. In some cases this has to occur, which is where a HRM is a useful tool. Measuring the intensity of exercise completed is necessary to determining someone’s energy output. To lose weight, this figure needs to exceed that of the energy input.

To determine how much energy is put back into a body, the characteristics of each food needs to be known. Some manufacturers of HRM units such as Polar include food group charts aimed at providing a guide to this. It’s included in an overall program that helps people prepare and safely execute a weight management program which is based on achieving a certain Body Mass Index (BMI). This figure, gained through some basic maths regarding height and weight, is a tried-and-true indication of whether someone is underweight or obese.

For example, if an individual is overweight and aim to lower their BMI, the intake/output equilibrium must be balanced in favour of the output. As they approach the target BMI, the balance can begin to move towards the intake while maintaining a certain output level. How does the HRM assist in this process? It’s able to measure energy output, which is key to progressing in any weight management ambitions.