Calorie Calc - scientific studies
Introduction
Calorie Calc is a set of tools to help estimate and track calories used per day.
Functionality
The app can estimate the following values:
- BMR - Basal Metabolic rate
- Calories used per day
- Lean body mass
- BMI - Body Mass Index
- Body fat percentage
- Calories burned for different exercises
It can also track calories used per day and estimate the amount of weight lost during a diet plan.
Medical disclaimer
Please be moderate in your weight loss goals and if you are unsure about any aspect of dieting, please consult a professional such as a doctor or registered dietician.
Scientific formulas used
BMR - Basal Metabolic Rate
BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate and is representative the minimum number of calories your body needs to perform essential, life-sustaining functions at rest, like breathing, circulation, cell production, and digestion.
It is calculated using the following 3 formulas:
The revised Harris-Benedict (1984) formula
Men: BMR (kcal/day) = 88.362 + (13.397 x weight in kg) + (4.799 x height in cm) - (5.677 x age in years)
Women: BMR (kcal/day) = 447.593 + (9.247 x weight in kg) + (3.098 x height in cm) - (4.330 x age in years)
The Mifflin and St Jeor (1990) formula
Men: (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 x height in cm) - (5 x age in years) + 5
Women: (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 x height in cm) - (5 x age in years) - 161
The Katch mcardle (1991) formula (aka the Cunningham formula)
370 + (21.6 x lean body mass in kg)
Lean body mass
Lean body mass is estimated using the Boer formula.
The Boer (1984) formula
Men: LBM = (0.407 x Weight) + (0.267 x Height) - 19.2
Women: LBM = (0.252 x Weight) + (0.473 x Height) - 48.3
Calories used per day
This is calculated using the Mifflin and St Jeor (1990) equation. It uses BMR multiplied by an activity factor to estimate calories consumed per day.
The Mifflin and St Jeor (1990) formula
Men: (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 x height in cm) - (5 x age in years) + 5
Women: (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 x height in cm) - (5 x age in years) - 161
Multiply by coefficient for activity level:
Sedentary * 1.2
Lightly active * 1.375
Moderately active * 1.55
Active * 1.725
Very active * 1.9
BMI - Body mass index
BMI is a widely used indication of weight range.
Standard BMI formula
BMI = weight in KG / (height in meters x height in meters)
The WHO (World Health Organization) has numerous classifications for BMI with a healthy BMI being between 18.5 and 30.
BMI is a useful general guide, however is it less accurate for very muscular people and certain ethnic groups.
Ideal weight
This is based on 4 different formulas.
The Hamwi (1964) formula
Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet
The Devine (1974) formula
Men: 50 kg + (2.3 kg x height in inches over 60)
Women: 45.5 kg + (2.3 kg x height in inches over 60)
The Miller (1983) formula
Men: 56.2 kg + (1.41 kg x inches over 5 feet).
Women: 53.1 kg + (1.36 kg x inches over 5 feet).
The Robinson (1983) formula
Men: 52 kg + 1.9 kg for each inch over 5 feet (60 inches).
Women: 49 kg + 1.7 kg for each inch over 5 feet (60 inches).
Body fat percentage
This is based on the Clinica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE) equation. It is estimated from age, BMI and gender.
Body fat percentage estimation formula
Men: -44.988 + (0.503 x age) + (10.689 x 0) + (3.172 x BMI) - (0.026 x BMI x BMI) + (0.181 x BMI x 0) - (0.02 x BMI x age) - (0.005 x BMI x BMI x sex) + (0.00021 x BMI x BMI x age)
Women: -44.988 + (0.503 x age) + (10.689 x 1) + (3.172 x BMI) - (0.026 x BMI x BMI) + (0.181 x BMI x 1) - (0.02 x BMI x age) - (0.005 x BMI x BMI x sex) + (0.00021 x BMI x BMI x age)
Calories burned calculator
This calculator is based on the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) and is the objective measure of the ratio of the rate at which a person expends energy, relative to the mass of that person. MET values are available in the 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.