When it comes to daily calorie intake, we are using the Mifflin-St Jeor formula. This method serves to estimate an individual’s Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR).
BMR is the number of calories your body burns to function and perform daily tasks (breathing, digesting food, as well as blood circulation, brain and nerve function, contraction of muscles, etc).
Basal metabolic rate affects the rate that a person burns calories and ultimately whether that individual maintains, gains, or loses weight.
You can check the equations we use below:
BMR for men:
BMR (metric) = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5
BMR for women:
BMR (metric) = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) - 161
The resulting number is the approximate daily calorie intake to maintain your current body weight.
Reducing calorie intake numbers below the estimated maintenance intake may assist with weight management.
If you would like to read more on the topic, feel free to check out the Report of a Joint FAO*/WHO**/UNU*** Consultation on Human Energy Requirements HERE.
Here’s an extract on the energy requirements of adults.
The report is available in PDF format as well.
You can also have a look at the BetterMe Sources of Recommendations.
Feel free to reach out to us at any time at support@betterme.world for more information.
*FAO stands for Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
**WHO – World Health Organisation
*** UNU – United Nations University