A recent study published in Current Biology has provided fresh insights into the limits of human metabolism.

Researchers tracked ultramarathon runners over a year, revealing that while athletes can burn up to 11,000 calories per day during extreme endurance events, this level of energy expenditure is not sustainable over time.

The study, titled Ultra-Endurance Athletes and the Metabolic Ceiling, confirms the existence of a physiological limit to human metabolism.

It reveals that even the most elite athletes cannot sustain extremely high energy output over long periods without facing physical strain and performance decline.

The findings highlight a metabolic ceiling - a point beyond which the body cannot maintain prolonged exertion without consequences, reinforcing the natural limits of human endurance.

The study found that over long periods, around 30 weeks or more, the human body can only sustain energy use up to about 2.4 times its basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR is the minimum energy needed daily for basic functions like breathing and staying alive.  

While people can temporarily burn up to 10 times their BMR during intense activity, the body can't keep that up for long. 

Source:Ndtv