Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Calculator

Determines the resting metabolic rate which is the number of calories the body requires at rest to maintain its normal functions.


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Steps on how to print your input & results:

1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.

2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.

Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.


RMR formulas

The resting metabolic rate (RMR), also known as basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents the amount of energy expended daily by the body when resting (or when sleeping), so to keep vital functions such as respiration or heart beating but with no additional activity.

The formulas used in the calculator above, depend on whether the data is input in the Metric or English system, and are the Harris-Benedict equations for basal metabolic rate:

RMR English Units

RMR Female = 655 + (4.35 x Weight lbs) + (4.7 x Height in) - (4.7 x Age yrs)

RMR Male = 66 + (6.23 x Weight lbs) + (12.7 x Height in) - (6.8 x Age yrs)

RMR Metric Units

RMR Female = 655 + (9.6 x Weight kg) + (1.8 x Height cm) - (4.7 x Age yrs)

RMR Male = 66 + (13.7 x Weight kg) + (5 x Height cm) - (6.8 x Age yrs)

RMR and weight loss or weight gain

If you wish to lose weight in a healthy way, you may want to consider a daily caloric intake that is between the RMR and RMR x 1.5 and to accompany your diet with suitable exercise and lifestyle changes. If you further eliminate 500kcal per day from your RMR, then you would be losing between 1 and 1.5 pounds per week – which is considered a generally accepted rate of health loss.

If you wish to gain weight, then you must consider a daily caloric intake that exceeds the RMR and is also adapted to the caloric consumption from your level of daily activity.

Factors that affect the RMR include subjects age (peaks in infancy then decreases with age), weight (distribution of lean muscle mass and fat mass), gender (females tend to have less lean mass so lower RMRs) and body surface.

References

Harris J, Benedict F. A Biometric Study of Human Basal Metabolism. PNAS. 1918; 4 (12): 370–3.

Müller B, Merk S, Bürgi U, Diem P. Calculating the basal metabolic rate and severe and morbid obesity Praxis (Bern 1994) 2001; 90 (45): 1955–63.


Specialty: Fitness

Article By: Denise Nedea

Published On: May 23, 2020 · 12:00 AM

Last Checked: May 23, 2020

Next Review: May 23, 2025