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Health May 2026 · 10 min read

Mifflin-St Jeor vs Harris-Benedict: The Science Behind BMR Calculators

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Renjith Pillai

Senior Systems Architect & Financial Analyst

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Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) represents the minimum number of calories your body burns at rest to maintain vital life functions like breathing, heart rate, and cell repair.

Mifflin-St Jeor Formula: The Gold Standard

Clinical dietetics considers the Mifflin-St Jeor formula the most accurate: BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5 (for men) or - 161 (for women).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does muscle burn more calories than fat at rest?+
Yes! Muscle tissue burns roughly 13 kcal/kg per day at rest compared to 4.5 kcal/kg per day for fat tissue.
Why does BMR decrease with age?+
Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and slowing mitochondrial respiration reduce baseline BMR over time.

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R

Renjith Pillai

Senior Software Engineer & Network Specialist

Renjith Pillai is a senior software engineer and financial tools author with over 12 years of experience. He built EasyCalcs.in to provide high-precision, privacy-first technical tools and financial calculators for investors, engineers, and consumers.