Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate and Body Weight

Factors Affecting Resting Heart Rate

Body composition is identified as a stable factor that affects basal/resting heart rate, according to the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Higher body mass index (BMI) is statistically associated with larger error rates in heart rate measurements across multiple devices, as reported by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, with a BMI range of 17.2-45.0 kg/m² 3

Age is a stable factor affecting basal/resting heart rate, as stated by the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Sex differences influence resting heart rate, with different baseline values typically observed between men and women, according to the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Cardiovascular fitness level has a strong inverse relationship with RHR, with higher fitness associated with lower RHR, as reported by the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2

Sleep quality and sleep phase significantly affect RHR measurements, according to the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Body position during measurement affects RHR, with the supine position resulting in lower RHR compared to sitting, as stated by the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Recent physical activity affects RHR based on time since activity, rest period, intensity, and duration, according to the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2
Food intake, nicotine use, and caffeine consumption can all temporarily increase RHR, as reported by the American College of Sports Medicine 1, 2

Skin tone should be considered when using wearable devices like Fitbit, as it can affect the accuracy of photoplethysmography (PPG) measurements used to determine heart rate, as stated by the British Journal of Sports Medicine 3, 7
Wrist circumference, which correlates with BMI, may affect the PPG signal quality in wrist-worn devices like Fitbit, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine 3