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.