RQ is a breathing test that shows how your body burns fuel at rest. You breathe normally into a mouthpiece or mask while you sit quietly. It shows how many calories you burn at rest and whether your body is burning mostly sugar or fat.
Your physician orders this test. You only get it if it is ordered for you.
What is RQ (resting metabolic rate)?
RQ is a breathing test that shows how your body burns fuel at rest. You breathe normally into a mouthpiece or mask while you sit quietly.
How does it help?
It shows how many calories you burn at rest and whether your body is burning mostly sugar or fat. That guides the diet and metabolic health coaching at your visits.
What does it feel like?
Calm, quiet breathing. Nothing goes through the skin.
How do you get ready?
Do not eat, exercise, or have caffeine or nicotine for about 4 hours before.
What should you tell us first?
- Tell us if you have trouble breathing through a mouthpiece
How long does it take?
About 15 to 20 minutes.
What to remember
- No food, exercise, caffeine or nicotine for about 4 hours before.
- It shows whether your body is burning sugar or fat.
- Your results set your eating plan.
Show us you have it: Tell us how you will get ready for the test. We go over it again at your next visit, and you can ask us to explain anything a second time.
Read more: diet and metabolic health coaching.
Other tests in the program
- Nerve test of the arm (EMG/NCS)
- Nerve test of the leg (EMG/NCS)
- CMAT (CardioMetabolic Assessment Test)
- Cognivue
- Kinetisense
- VNG (balance and dizziness test)
This is part of our physician-directed physiotherapy program, where a physician orders and supervises every treatment and no treatment starts unless a physician is available right away.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP. Board Certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, Addiction Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Last reviewed October 18, 2026.