Athlete BMR Calculator — English Endurance

English Endurance

Athlete BMR Calculator

Estimate basal metabolic rate using the prediction equations that validate best in athletic populations. The headline figure averages the three strongest equations to reduce the bias any single one carries.

Sex
Enter age, weight and height to see the estimate.
Methodology & references

Synthesis model — the headline figure

Averages Ten-Haaf (2014), Mifflin-St Jeor (1990) and Harris-Benedict (1984).

Informed by O'Neill et al. 2023, a meta-analysis of 29 studies covering 1,430 athletes.

Ten-Haaf (2014) Best for athletes

REE = 11.936 × weight(kg) + 587.728 × height(m) − 8.129 × age + 191.027 × sex(M=1, F=0) + 29.279
Precision: 80.2% of estimates fall within ±10% of measured values (O'Neill et al., 2023).
Ten Haaf T, Weijs PJM. PLoS ONE 2014;9(10):e108460 — PubMed

Mifflin-St Jeor (1990) General population

Male:   10 × weight + 6.25 × height − 5 × age + 5 Female: 10 × weight + 6.25 × height − 5 × age − 161
Mifflin MD et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(2):241–247 — PubMed

Harris-Benedict, Roza revision (1984) Classic

Male:   88.362 + 13.397 × weight + 4.799 × height − 5.677 × age Female: 447.593 + 9.247 × weight + 3.098 × height − 4.330 × age
Roza AM, Shizgal HM. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984;40(1):168–182 — PubMed

WHO/FAO Reference only

Weight-and-age banded equations — shown for comparison; not included in the synthesis average.

Key references

2023 meta-analysis: O'Neill JER, Corish CA, Horner K. Accuracy of Resting Metabolic Rate Prediction Equations in Athletes. Sports Med. 2023;53(12):2373–2398 — PubMed · Full text 2005 validation review: Frankenfield D, Roth-Yousey L, Compher C. Comparison of predictive equations for resting metabolic rate in healthy nonobese and obese adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(5):775–789 — PubMed

BMR is the energy cost of staying alive at complete rest — it excludes training, daily activity, and the thermic effect of food. Total daily energy expenditure for a training athlete is typically well above this figure. Prediction equations carry meaningful individual error; treat the output as a starting point for a nutrition conversation rather than a measured value.