Everything I find says illness affects BMR...

but does being sick cause your body to work harder therefor increasing your BMR? Or does being sick depress your system and cause your BMR to be lower?

Anyone?

Does it matter?   If you're sick as in bedridden, comatose and unable to move for weeks on end you'll burn less energy.  If you're sick as in feverish, hurling your guts and battling a serious virus you might conceiveably use up more energy...    But who's going to be thinking about their BMR when they're sick?

I guess I should have said scientifically?

There is an entirely different scale (BMR is discarded) when determining the metabolic rate of critically ill patients.

Original Post by cruithear:

There is an entirely different scale (BMR is discarded) when determining the metabolic rate of critically ill patients.

 That was very informative! Thank you.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Does it matter?   If you're sick as in bedridden, comatose and unable to move for weeks on end you'll burn less energy.  If you're sick as in feverish, hurling your guts and battling a serious virus you might conceiveably use up more energy...    But who's going to be thinking about their BMR when they're sick?

 One can simply be curious, can they not? I think you can spare this poster the attitude and either leave if you don't have an answer, or give your answer if you have one.