Schofield equation

The Schofield Equation is a method of estimating the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of adult men and women published in 1985.[1]

This is the equation used by the WHO in their technical report series.[2] The equation that is recommended to estimate BMR by the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation.[3]

The equations for estimating BMR in kJ/day (kilojoules per day) from body mass (kg) are:[4]

Men:

Age Equation (kJ/day) SEE
< 3 249 × W - 127 292
3–10 95 × W + 2110 280
10–18 74 × W + 2754 441
18–30 63 × W + 2896 641
30–60 48 × W + 3653 700
> 60 49 × W + 2459 686

Women:

Age Equation (kJ/day) SEE
< 3 244 × W - 130 246
3–10 85 × W + 2033 292
10–18 56 × W + 2898 466
18–30 62 × W + 2036 497
30–60 34 × W + 3538 465
> 60 38 × W + 2755 451

The equations for estimating BMR in kcal/day (kilocalories per day) from body mass (kg) are:

Men:

Age Equation (kcal/day) SEE
< 3 59.512 × W - 30.4 70
3–10 22.706 × W + 504.3 67
10–18 17.686 × W + 658.2 105
18–30 15.057 × W + 692.2 153
30–60 11.472 × W + 873.1 167
> 60 11.711 × W + 587.7 164

Women:

Age Equation (kcal/day) SEE
< 3 58.317 × W - 31.1 59
3–10 20.315 × W + 485.9 70
10–18 13.384 × W + 692.6 111
18–30 14.818 × W + 486.6 119
30–60 8.126 × W + 845.6 111
> 60 9.082 × W + 658.5 108

Key:

W = Body weight in kilograms

SEE = Standard error of estimation

The raw figure obtained by the equation should be adjusted up or downwards, within the confidence limit suggested by the quoted estimation errors, and according to the following principles:

Subjects leaner and more muscular than usual require more energy than the average. Obese subjects require less. Patients at the young end of the age range for a given equation require more energy. Patients at the high end of the age range for a given equation require less energy.

Effects of age and body mass may cancel out: an obese 30-year-old or an athletic 60-year-old may need no adjustment from the raw figure.

  1. ^ Schofield WN (1985). "Predicting basal metabolic rate, new standards and review of previous work". Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition. 39 Suppl 1: 5–41. PMID 4044297.
  2. ^ World Health Organisation, Fao, and Unu. Energy and protein requirements. Geneva: WHO, Technical Report Series 724, 1985.
  3. ^ J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:330-346.
  4. ^ Energy Requirements of Adults, Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation, (See table 5.2).