📖 Glossary
500 money, math, and health terms explained in plain English — each with an example and a free calculator.
34 terms found in Health & Fitness. Clear filters
B
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the number of calories the body uses at complete rest to maintain basic…
Body Composition
Body composition describes what the body is made of, usually divided into fat mass and lean mass (muscle…
Body Fat Percentage
Body fat percentage is the proportion of total body weight that is fat tissue. Unlike BMI, it distinguishes…
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body mass index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height, used as a screening measure…
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Calorie
A calorie is a unit of energy. On food labels, “Calories” actually means kilocalories (kcal): the energy…
Calorie Deficit
A calorie deficit occurs when a person consumes fewer calories than their body uses, so the body draws on…
Circadian Rhythm
A circadian rhythm is the body's roughly 24-hour internal cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness, hormone…
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Heart Rate Reserve
Heart rate reserve (HRR) is the difference between maximum heart rate and resting heart rate. It is used in…
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats, measured in…
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Lean Body Mass
Lean body mass is total body weight minus body fat. It includes muscle, bone, organs, skin, and water. It can…
Luteal Phase
The luteal phase is the part of the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the start of the next period. It…
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Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the nutrients the body needs in large amounts for energy and structure: protein…
Maximum Heart Rate
Maximum heart rate is the highest number of beats per minute the heart can reach during maximal physical…
Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of hormonal changes that prepares the body for possible pregnancy…
MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task)
A MET (metabolic equivalent of task) expresses the energy cost of an activity as a multiple of the energy…
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical processes by which the body converts food into energy and uses that energy…
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One-Rep Max (1RM)
A one-rep max (1RM) is the heaviest weight a person can lift once with correct form in a given exercise…
Ovulation
Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from an ovary, which typically happens once per menstrual cycle. In…
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Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the average daily intake of a nutrient sufficient to meet the…
REM Sleep
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is a sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreaming, and…
Resting Heart Rate
Resting heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute while at complete rest, best measured in…
Running Pace
Running pace is the time it takes to cover a unit of distance, usually expressed in minutes per mile or…
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Target Heart Rate
Target heart rate is a range of heart rates, usually a percentage of maximum heart rate, used to gauge…
Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)
Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is the estimated number of calories the body uses in a day, including…
Trimester
A trimester is one of the three periods of about three months into which pregnancy is divided. Counting from…
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W
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Waist-to-height ratio is waist circumference divided by height, using the same units. It is a simple…
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio is waist circumference divided by hip circumference. It indicates how fat is distributed…
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Definitions are for general educational purposes only and are not financial, tax, legal, or medical advice.