Energy
Mifflin-St Jeor equation
The most widely used predictive equation. Ten times the weight in kilograms, plus 6.25 times the height in centimetres, minus five times the age in years, plus a sex constant.
The Formula
BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s
The most widely used predictive equation. Ten times the weight in kilograms, plus 6.25 times the height in centimetres, minus five times the age in years, plus a sex constant.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| w | Body weight | kilograms | In kilograms. Pounds must be converted first, or the weight term is inflated by about 2.2 times. |
| h | Height | centimetres | In centimetres. The coefficient 6.25 is tuned to this unit, not to inches. |
| a | Age | years | In whole years. Each year subtracts 5 kcal from the estimate. |
What Each Symbol Means
wkilograms
Body weight
In kilograms. Pounds must be converted first, or the weight term is inflated by about 2.2 times.
hcentimetres
Height
In centimetres. The coefficient 6.25 is tuned to this unit, not to inches.
ayears
Age
In whole years. Each year subtracts 5 kcal from the estimate.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate bmr page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate BMR, filed under Health. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.