Last updated: March 2, 2026 by Sarah Chen

What Is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?

Formula

Your Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories your body needs to maintain basic life-sustaining functions like breathing, circulation, and cell production while completely at rest.

This calculator provides results from two well-known formulas: Mifflin-St Jeor (1990) and Harris-Benedict (revised 1984). Mifflin-St Jeor is generally considered more accurate for modern populations.

Common use cases:

  • Foundation for calorie planning
  • Understanding resting energy expenditure
  • Medical and clinical nutrition assessments

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sarah Chen

Financial Analyst, CFA

Sarah is a Chartered Financial Analyst with over 8 years of experience in investment management and financial modeling. She specializes in retirement planning and compound interest calculations.

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