Revised Harris-Benedict Formula
The 1984 Roza and Shizgal recalibration of the classical 1919 biometric resting energy expenditure standard.
Clinical & Bioenergetic Overview
Originally derived in 1919 at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the Harris-Benedict equation was the foundational standard of 20th-century clinical nutrition. In 1984, Roza and Shizgal published a comprehensive statistical reevaluation that corrected systematic overestimations and adapted the constants for contemporary populations.
Mathematical Formula & Calculation
Real-World Worked Example
A 45-year-old male weighing 85 kg at 175 cm: BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × 85) + (4.799 × 175) - (5.677 × 45) = 88.362 + 1138.745 + 839.825 - 255.465 = 1,811 kcal/day.
Why It Matters for Dieting
Widely recognized in academic literature and useful for comparing multiple predictive models to establish a consensus range.
Frequent Mistakes
Using the unrevised 1919 version, which overestimates modern sedentary requirements by 5% to 15%.
Compare BMR Formulas
View side-by-side formula comparisons in our calculation suite.
Related Bioenergetic Terms
The validated clinical formula developed in 1990 used to predict Basal Metabolic Rate from height, weight, age, and sex.
The baseline caloric expenditure required to sustain vital organ life at complete physical and emotional rest.