VP Health & Fitness

This is an update to the post, How much should we be eating?

I have been doing some research on the Harris-Benedict formula to calculate how much I should really be eating and if it was the most accurate formula currently in use.

I found it that this formulas is very old (1919) and from personal experience & what I have read, actually calculates my calories to be consumed a lot higher that what I should really be eating. Not, good!

There is a more updated formula called the The Mifflin formula or sometimes also known as the Mifflin-St Jeor Equation which can be calculated manually.

The Medical Branch of the University of Texas states that the Mifflin–St. Jeor equation (3) for men and women are as follows:

• Men
  • Energy expenditure = 5 + 10 x weight in kg + 6.25 x height in cm – 5 x age in years
• Women
  • Energy expenditure = -161 + 10 x weight in kg + 6.25 x height in cm – 5 x age in years

You then need to multiply this by a figure determined by your activity level to get your required energy intake.  Not sure how reputable the following site is, but you can see more information on the mifflin formula on this page.

Hope this helps,

~ Vilma

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