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Mifflin-St Jeor vs Katch-McArdle - the BMR difference

Mifflin-St Jeor vs Katch-McArdle - the BMR difference

Your BMR is the calories your body burns at rest. Mifflin-St Jeor works it out from your weight, height, age and sex. Katch-McArdle works it out from your muscle mass. For most people they nearly agree; for lean or muscular people, Katch is more accurate. Here is how each is calculated.

12 Jul 2026 · Burnie Academy
bmr metabolism mifflin katch-mcardle

BMR means basal metabolic rate - the calories your body burns just to stay alive, even if you lay still all day. It is the biggest part of your daily burn, usually more than half. Two formulas are used most: Mifflin-St Jeor and Katch-McArdle. They give almost the same answer for most people, but they ask for different numbers and differ a lot for very lean or very muscular bodies. Here is what each one uses and how to pick.

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