Three new free basal metabolic rate (BMR) calculators for the iPhone
MMISoftware has released three new free basal metabolic rate (BMR) calculators for the iPhone and iPod Touch. All three calculators (bmrPounds – iTunes Link, bmrKilo – iTunes Link, and bmrStone – iTunes Link) can work out your BMR, but using different units for your height and weight.
Your basal metabolic rate BMR can be calculated using either the equation of Harris and Benedict (1) from 1918, or an equation derived by Mifflin et al. in 1990 (2). Of these two equations Mifflin et al. in 1990 (2) is now considered to be the more accurate and it is this equation (see below) that is used in all the calculators (both equations are given below).
Knowing your BMR is useful when dieting as it allows you to calculate the number of calories your body is using so you can adjust your calorie intake (or increase your level of exercise) as part of your weight control.
bmrPounds: This calculator uses pounds for weight, and feet and inches for height, therefore saving you the need of converting to kilograms and meters.
bmrStone: This calculator uses stone and pounds for weight, and feet and inches for height, therefore saving you the need of converting to kilograms and meters.
bmrKilo: Calculates your BMR using kilos for weight, and meters for height.
All three calculators will also calculate your BMR for your lifestyle (see below).
bmrPounds – a basal metabolic rate calculator for the iPhone – the calculator uses pounds (lb) for your weight, and feet (ft) and inches (in) for your height.
bmrStone – a basal metabolic rate calculator for the iPhone – the calculator uses stone (st) and pounds (lb) for your weight, and feet (ft) and inches (in) for your height.
bmrKilo – a basal metabolic rate calculator for the iPhone – the calculator uses kilos (kilograms; kg) for your weight, and meters (m) for your height.
If you are looking for a BMR calculator that can work with any units, then you may wish to look at bodyCal [App Store Link] or bmrCal [App Store Link].
Harris and Benedict Equation:-
655 + (9.6 x w) + (1.8 x h) – (4.7 x y)
Men BMR =
66 + ( 13.7 x w) + (5 x h) – (6.8 x y)
Where:
| w | = | Weight in kilograms |
| h | = | Height in CENTIMETERS |
| y | = | Age in years |
Mifflin et al. equation:-
(9.99 x w) + (6.25 x h) – (4.92 x y) + s
Where:
| w | = | Weight in kilograms |
| h | = | Height in CENTIMETERS |
| y | = | Age in years |
| s | = |
For males, +5 For women, -161 |
The values returned for BMR are kcal per day. That is, the number of kcal required to maintain your current weight.
1 kcal is equivalent to 1 Cal (dietary Calorie).
Activity
The BMR value can be adjusted for your lifestyle by multiplying by the following activity factors:
| Activity Factor | Category | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Sedentary | Little or no exercise and desk job |
| 1.375 | Lightly Active | Light exercise or sports 1-3 days a week |
| 1.55 | Moderately Active | Moderate exercise or sports 3-5 days a week |
| 1.725 | Very Active | Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days a week4 |
| 1.9 | Extremely Active | Hard daily exercise or sports and physical job |
References
Harris,J.A. and Benedict,F.G. (1918) A Biometric Study of Human Basal Metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., Vol 4:370-3
Mifflin,M.D., St Jeor,S.T., Hill,L.A., Scott,B.J., Daugherty,S.A. and Koh,Y.O. (1990) A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 51:241-247 Title: untitled
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Looks like very useful feature of my iPhone. I really need this… Thanks
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