{"id":8330,"date":"2024-08-30T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/?p=8330"},"modified":"2024-10-16T16:02:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T16:02:49","slug":"best-bmr-equations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to estimate your daily energy expenditure in order to calculate your energy needs for weight gain, weight loss, or athletic performance, you first need to estimate your basal metabolic rate: how many Calories your body burns at rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) tells you how much energy your body burns to just \u201ckeep the lights on\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s the energy used to power the basic functions of your vital organs, to accomplish sufficient protein and cell turnover to keep your tissues functioning properly, etc. If you didn\u2019t leave your bed all day, and didn\u2019t move a muscle, your basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy you\u2019d still burn in a day. <sup data-fn=\"514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf-link\" href=\"#514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To estimate your BMR, you just need to plug some basic demographic and anthropometric information (like height, weight, age, sex, and\/or fat-free mass) into a formula, and the formula will spit out an estimate of your BMR. So, which equation should you use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you dig through the research on the topic, you\u2019ll find a <em>lot<\/em> of proposed equations for estimating basal metabolic rate. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/ijo2012218\">a 2013 study<\/a> found 248 different BMR equations, and there are doubtlessly many more that have been published since then. But, there are two that generally perform the best in most populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t know your body-fat percentage, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16277825\/\">Oxford\/Henry equation(s)<\/a> are your best bet. If you do know your body-fat percentage, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1957828\/\">1991 Cunningham equation<\/a> is generally the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Oxford\/Henry Equations are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Sex<\/th><th>Age<\/th><th>Oxford\/Henry BMR Equation (Metric)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan=\"3\">Males<\/td><td>18-30<\/td><td>BMR = 14.4 \u00d7 Body Mass + 3.13 \u00d7 Height + 113<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30-60<\/td><td>BMR = 11.4 \u00d7 Body Mass + 5.41 \u00d7 Height -137<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60+<\/td><td>BMR = 11.4 \u00d7 Body Mass + 5.41 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 256<\/td><\/tr><tr><td rowspan=\"3\">Females<\/td><td>18-30<\/td><td>BMR = 10.4 \u00d7 Body Mass + 6.15 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 282<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30-60<\/td><td>BMR = 8.18 \u00d7 Body Mass + 5.02 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 11.6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60+<\/td><td>BMR = 8.52 \u00d7 Body Mass + 4.21 \u00d7 Height + 10.7<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"3\">*Mass in kilograms, height in centimeters<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Sex<\/th><th>Age<\/th><th>Oxford\/Henry BMR Equation (Imperial)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan=\"3\">Males<\/td><td>18-30<\/td><td>BMR = 6.53 \u00d7 Body Weight + 7.95 \u00d7 Height + 113<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30-60<\/td><td>BMR = 5.17 \u00d7 Body Weight + 13.74 \u00d7 Height -137<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60+<\/td><td>BMR = 5.17 \u00d7 Body Weight + 13.74 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 256<\/td><\/tr><tr><td rowspan=\"3\">Females<\/td><td>18-30<\/td><td>BMR = 4.72 \u00d7 Body Weight + 15.62 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 282<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30-60<\/td><td>BMR = 3.71 \u00d7 Body Weight + 12.75 \u00d7 Height &#8211; 11.6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>60+<\/td><td>BMR = 3.86 \u00d7 Body Weight + 10.69 \u00d7 Height + 10.7<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"3\">*Weight in pounds, height in inches<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 1991 Cunningham equation, on the other hand, is the same for everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BMR = 21.6 \u00d7 Fat-Free Mass (kg) + 370<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BMR = 9.8 \u00d7 Fat-Free Mass (lb) + 370<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t know your fat-free mass (FFM), but you <em>do<\/em> know your body-fat percentage, you can calculate your fat-free mass using this equation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FFM = Body Weight \u00d7 (1 &#8211; Body-Fat Percentage)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-are-these-the-two-best-equations-in-most-populations\">Why are these the two best equations in most populations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-oxford-henry\">Oxford\/Henry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Oxford\/Henry Equations were developed using the most data, and they have the strongest support in subsequent research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back in the 1980s, the UN and the World Health Organization wanted to develop equations that could be used to estimate energy expenditure in a diverse array of populations. Global food insecurity and malnutrition were even bigger problems then than they are now, and obesity rates were starting to trend up in developed nations, so developing accurate equations to predict BMR (which could then be used to predict total energy needs) seemed like a pressing concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resulting FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations (sometimes referred to as the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Schofield_equation\">Schofield equations<\/a>) are still frequently used, but they have one significant problem: they reliably tend to overestimate BMR, especially in smaller people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These equations were developed from a database consisting of data from 7,173 subjects, but nearly 50% of the data (from 3,388 subjects) came from just 9 old Italian studies that were conducted between 1936 and 1942. And, as it turns out, one of two things is true: either 1) Italians during this era had exceptionally high basal metabolic rates, or 2) Italian fascists weren\u2019t particularly good at doing metabolism research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8add6cb&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8add6cb\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"5700\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01.png\" alt=\"Italian BMR data used in the Schofield database\" class=\"wp-image-8332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01-1024x700.png 1024w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01-768x525.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01-1536x1051.png 1536w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-01-2048x1401.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2005, researchers <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16277825\/\">re-examined the FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations<\/a>, the underlying data used to develop these equations, and the additional data that had been published during the intervening decades. They found that, compared to research in virtually all other populations, the Italian subjects had BMRs that were about 10% higher than other populations with the similar characteristics. Since those Italian subjects were relatively small, and massively overrepresented in the database used to develop the FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations, they\u2019re the primary reason why the resulting equations were subsequently found to overestimate BMR, especially in smaller people. The image below illustrates this divergence in young women, but similar differences were observed for other age and sex cohorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8adda5e&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8adda5e\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"5610\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02.png\" alt=\"Comparison of BMR values in Italian Schofield data versus Oxford\/Henry data in 18 to 30-year-old females\" class=\"wp-image-8334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02-1024x689.png 1024w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02-768x517.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02-1536x1034.png 1536w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-02-2048x1379.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, the researchers excluded those non-representative Italian studies, added data from an additional 7,000+ subjects from studies published between 1985 and 2005, and updated the equations using a larger (10,552 total subjects) and more representative sample that wasn\u2019t unduly influenced by any overrepresented subpopulations. This is a much larger population than the samples used to develop other popular BMR equations using height, weight, and age, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16576330\/\">Harris-Benedict equation<\/a> (239 subjects), the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6741850\/\">revised Harris-Benedict equation<\/a> (337 subjects), and the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2305711\/\">Mifflin-St Jeor equations<\/a> (498 subjects).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the Oxford\/Henry equations were developed, a <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1002\/oby.23469\">meta study<\/a> found that the Oxford\/Henry equations had the best combination of low error (small average deviations between measured and predicted BMRs) and low bias (not systematically over- or under-estimating BMR in particularly large or particularly small people) across both sexes. Similarly, another <em>huge<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29224893\/\">study with nearly 17,000 subjects<\/a> found that the Oxford\/Henry equations were among the best-performing equations for people in all BMI categories. Finally, <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nutritionreviews\/article\/80\/11\/2113\/6585249\">a 2022 meta-analysis<\/a> found that the FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations performed best in people with overweight and obesity, but that review included relatively few studies that used the Oxford\/Henry equations. However, BMR estimates provided by the FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations and the Oxford\/Henry equations tend to converge at higher body weights and BMIs (in other words, if the FAO\/WHO\/UNU equations perform well in people with obesity, the Oxford\/Henry equations do too).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, in most populations, the Oxford\/Henry equations are the best BMR equations based on height, weight, age, and sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8adddf3&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8adddf3\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"11343\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03.png\" alt=\"Dot chart showing the median percent bias of various BMR equations in a population of nearly 17,000 people\" class=\"wp-image-8336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03-220x300.png 220w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03-752x1024.png 752w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03-768x1045.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03-1129x1536.png 1129w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-03-1505x2048.png 1505w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cunningham-1991\">Cunningham, 1991<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much like the Oxford\/Henry equations, the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1957828\/\">1991 version of the Cunningham equation<\/a> is the result of synthesizing data from multiple other studies. Cunningham had first developed an <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7435418\/\">equation for estimating BMR from fat-free mass<\/a> in 1980. In the intervening decade, more research groups investigated the relationship between fat-free mass (FFM) and BMR, allowing Cunningham to systematically analyze the results from a total population of 1482 subjects. The studies included both males and females, with a pretty even mix of lean and obese subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8ade13a&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8ade13a\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"4350\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04.png\" alt=\"Predictions of BMR from fat-free mass in large samples\" class=\"wp-image-8338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04-1024x534.png 1024w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04-1536x802.png 1536w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-04-2048x1069.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subsequent research has supported the validity of the 1991 Cunningham equations. For instance, a decade after Cunningham\u2019s study, <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.physiology.org\/doi\/full\/10.1152\/ajpendo.2000.279.3.E539\">Wang and colleagues<\/a> analyzed the FFM\/BMR relationship in the published research (which included another seven studies that came out after Cunningham\u2019s equation was published). It was a somewhat less rigorous analysis \u2013 I don\u2019t believe they applied weightings based on the number of subjects in each study \u2013 but it found that the \u201caverage\u201d equation to predict BMR from FFM was BMR = 21.5 * FFM + 407, which is practically indistinguishable from Cunningham\u2019s equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, they modeled the theoretical relationship between FFM and BMR that was revealed from animal research spanning a range of 7 orders of magnitude; when scaled to body size, metabolic rates are shockingly consistent and predictable between species. Wang and colleagues found that the theoretical relationship between FFM and BMR in animals of all sizes could be modeled with this equation: BMR = 21.7 * FFM + 374<sup data-fn=\"0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6-link\" href=\"#0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Again, that\u2019s virtually indistinguishable from the 1991 Cunningham equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8ade485&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8ade485\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"5909\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05.png\" alt=\"BMR as function of body mass in all endotherms, mammals, and birds\" class=\"wp-image-8340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05-1024x726.png 1024w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05-768x545.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05-1536x1089.png 1536w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-05-2048x1452.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, to lend support to both the 1991 Cunningham equation and the Oxford\/Henry equations, both equations produce comparable BMR estimates. Essentially, if the Oxford\/Henry equations are good, and the 1991 Cunningham equation produces similar estimates, that suggests that the 1991 Cunningham equation is also pretty good (and vice versa). Using the NHANES body composition cohort, I calculated the estimated BMR for all participants using both the Oxford\/Henry equations and the 1991 Cunningham equation. They produced estimates that differed by less than 100 Calories, on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a364c8adea45&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a364c8adea45\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8334\" height=\"6000\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06.png\" alt=\"Agreement between the Oxford\/Henry and Cunningham equations\" class=\"wp-image-8342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06.png 8334w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06-1024x737.png 1024w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06-768x553.png 768w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06-1536x1106.png 1536w, https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1-Best-BMR-Equations-06-2048x1474.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8334px) 100vw, 8334px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-equation-should-you-use\">Which equation should you use?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If both the Oxford\/Henry and the 1991 Cunningham equation are generally good, and typically produce similar BMR estimates, which one should you use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t have a decent idea of your body composition, the Oxford\/Henry equations are probably the way to go. However, if you <em>do<\/em> have a pretty good idea of your body composition, the 1991 Cunningham equation is likely the better option. Fat-free mass is <em>by far<\/em> the most important predictor of BMR. Equations like the Oxford\/Henry equations work well because sex, height, and weight are reliably associated with fat-free mass. So, in essence, the Oxford\/Henry equation is <em>tacitly<\/em> predicting your fat-free mass to then predict your BMR. But, if you think you can estimate your body-fat percentage with a reasonable degree of accuracy (within about 5% or so), using the 1991 Cunningham equation essentially lets you go \u201cstraight to the source,\u201d and estimate BMR directly from FFM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, the choice of equation shouldn\u2019t make that large of a difference for most people, most of the time. There are a few exceptions, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, if you think your body-fat percentage is considerably higher or considerably lower than average for people of your age, height, weight, and sex, the 1991 Cunningham equation is likely a much better option than the Oxford\/Henry equations. If you\u2019re 15% body fat, and the average person of your height, weight, age, and sex is 30% body fat, the Oxford\/Henry equations would likely underestimate your BMR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, if you\u2019re over 60 years old, the Oxford\/Henry equation corresponding to your age and sex is probably the better option. The relationship between fat-free mass and BMR remains fairly stable through most of your adult life, but BMR per unit of fat-free mass begins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8370708\/\">declining more rapidly past the age of 60<\/a> (which we\u2019ll discuss in more detail later in this series). So, the 1991 Cunningham equation would likely reliably overestimate your BMR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third, if you&#8217;re an athlete, both of these equations are likely to underestimate your BMR. As we&#8217;ll discuss later in this series, athletes tend to have considerably higher BMRs than non-athletes, even when accounting for differences in body size and body composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-just-how-accurate-are-these-equations\">Just how accurate are these equations?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though the Oxford\/Henry and 1991 Cunningham equations are the cream of the crop, don\u2019t expect them to perfectly nail your BMR. As discussed in <a href=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/metabolism\/\">a previous MacroFactor article<\/a>, even the best BMR equation can produce relatively large under- or over-estimates. You can be <em>reasonably<\/em> confident that the value produced by these equations will be within about 150-200 Calories of your actual BMR, and you can be <em>quite<\/em> confident that the value produced by these equations will be within about 300-400 Calories of your actual BMR. In other words, if these equations estimate that your BMR is 1600 Calories per day, there\u2019s about a two-thirds chance that your actual BMR is between 1400-1450 Calories on the low end, 1750-1800 Calories on the high end, and a 95% chance that your actual BMR is between 1200-1300 Calories on the low end, and 1900-2000 Calories on the high end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-notes\">Final notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may know the 1991 Cunningham equation as the Katch-McArdle equation. They\u2019re the same equation. It was developed by Cunningham, and popularized by Katch and McArdle in their exercise physiology textbook. Since it was developed by Cunningham, I\u2019m giving him the credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re only semi-confident in your ability to estimate your body composition, there\u2019s no problem with calculating your BMR using both the Cunningham and Oxford\/Henry equations, and averaging the two values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leighpeele.com\/mifflin-st-jeor-calculator\">Mifflin-St Jeor equation<\/a> deserves an honorable mention. For formulas based on height, weight, age, and sex, I think it\u2019s probably the second best, after the Oxford\/Henry equations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, if you\u2019d like to learn more about the determinants of basal metabolic rate, to better understand the (surprisingly cool) theory and physiology underpinning these equations, you\u2019ll really enjoy the next article in this series. Subsequent articles in this series will also discuss how factors like age, sex, and weight loss impact BMR, and we\u2019ll wrap it up by using all of that data to improve on the BMR equations covered in this article. We&#8217;ve already <a href=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/bmr-calculator\/\">published a BMR calculator<\/a> with these new equations that you can try out for yourself, but the articles explaining the rationale methodology used to develop our new BMR equations will be published over the next three weeks. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n<ol style=\"border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\" class=\"wp-block-footnotes\"><li id=\"514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf\">There are several different terms that describe similar but <em>slightly<\/em> different concepts, including basal metabolic rate (BMR) or energy expenditure (BEE), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) or energy expenditure (SEE), and resting metabolic rate (RMR) or energy expenditure (REE). For the purpose of this series, we\u2019re using all of these terms interchangeably. Technically, this series is <em>mostly<\/em> about RMR\/REE, which is the amount of energy your body <em>actually<\/em> burns at rest most of the time. BMR is the amount of energy you burn first thing in the morning, and measuring BMR requires subjects to sleep in the lab overnight. Sleeping metabolic rate is, quite intuitively, the amount of energy you burn while sleeping, which also requires subjects to sleep in the lab overnight. BMR is usually a little lower than RMR, and SMR is usually a little lower than BMR, but all three values scale with each other (i.e., you\u2019re not going to have a really high RMR and a really low SMR), and <em>most<\/em> research on the topic assesses RMR since the subject burden of measuring RMR is much lower than BMR or SMR. RMR is also more broadly representative of your \u201cnormal\u201d metabolic rate, since most people spend most of their time awake. The reason we opted to use the term \u201cBMR\u201d is just that it\u2019s the term that more people are familiar with, and these terms are all used interchangeably by most non-academics.  <a href=\"#514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6\">The actual equation is a nonlinear allometric scaling equation. This is the linear approximation corresponding to the range of FFMs typical in humans.  <a href=\"#0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 2\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to calculate your energy needs for weight gain, weight loss, or athletic performance, you first need to estimate your basal metabolic rate: how many Calories your body burns at rest. But there are at least 248 different BMR equations. Which equation is best, and which one should you use to estimate your energy needs? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8361,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"There are several different terms that describe similar but <em>slightly<\/em> different concepts, including basal metabolic rate (BMR) or energy expenditure (BEE), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) or energy expenditure (SEE), and resting metabolic rate (RMR) or energy expenditure (REE). For the purpose of this series, we\u2019re using all of these terms interchangeably. Technically, this series is <em>mostly<\/em> about RMR\/REE, which is the amount of energy your body <em>actually<\/em> burns at rest most of the time. BMR is the amount of energy you burn first thing in the morning, and measuring BMR requires subjects to sleep in the lab overnight. Sleeping metabolic rate is, quite intuitively, the amount of energy you burn while sleeping, which also requires subjects to sleep in the lab overnight. BMR is usually a little lower than RMR, and SMR is usually a little lower than BMR, but all three values scale with each other (i.e., you\u2019re not going to have a really high RMR and a really low SMR), and <em>most<\/em> research on the topic assesses RMR since the subject burden of measuring RMR is much lower than BMR or SMR. RMR is also more broadly representative of your \u201cnormal\u201d metabolic rate, since most people spend most of their time awake. The reason we opted to use the term \u201cBMR\u201d is just that it\u2019s the term that more people are familiar with, and these terms are all used interchangeably by most non-academics. \",\"id\":\"514b94d5-06fe-43fa-8351-9c74ff751ebf\"},{\"content\":\"The actual equation is a nonlinear allometric scaling equation. This is the linear approximation corresponding to the range of FFMs typical in humans. \",\"id\":\"0ca10845-458f-40b8-aa0a-e49040791ee6\"}]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,526],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-bmr"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations? - MacroFactor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At least 248 different BMR equations exist for calculating how many Calories your body burns at rest. But which equation is best?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At least 248 different BMR equations exist for calculating how many Calories your body burns at rest. 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But which equation is best?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations?","og_description":"At least 248 different BMR equations exist for calculating how many Calories your body burns at rest. But which equation is best?","og_url":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/","og_site_name":"MacroFactor","article_published_time":"2024-08-30T13:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-10-16T16:02:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Best-BMR-equation-1024x683.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Greg Nuckols","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Greg Nuckols","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/"},"author":{"name":"Greg Nuckols","@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/e37d684b76f5d4415c0cc2cd16749199"},"headline":"What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations?","datePublished":"2024-08-30T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-16T16:02:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/"},"wordCount":2052,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Best-BMR-equation.png","articleSection":["Articles","Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) Series"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/","url":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/","name":"What are the Best Basal Metabolic Rate Equations? - MacroFactor","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/best-bmr-equations\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/macrofactor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Best-BMR-equation.png","datePublished":"2024-08-30T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-16T16:02:49+00:00","description":"At least 248 different BMR equations exist for calculating how many Calories your body burns at rest. 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