Adult Weight Management

AWM: Estimating Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) (2014)

• Assessment
  In overweight or obese adults, which predictive equation for estimating resting metabolic rate should be used?

  • Conclusion

    The majority of research reviewed supports the use of the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation (using actual body weight) to predict resting metabolic rate (RMR) in overweight or obese adults because it demonstrated good accuracy and correlation with indirect calorimetry. Other equations evaluated did not predict resting metabolic rate as accurately as the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation.

  • Grade: I
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: In overweight/obese adults, which predictive equation for estimating resting metabolic rate should be used?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • de Oliveira FC, Alves RD, Zuconi CP, Ribeiro AQ, Bressan J. Agreement between different methods and predictive equations for resting energy expenditure in overweight and obese Brazilian men. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012; 112(9): 1,415-1,420.
      • Faria SL, Faria OP, Menezes CS, de Gouvea HR, de Almeida Cardeal M. Metabolic profile of clinically severe obese patients. Obes Surg. 2012; 22(8): 1,257-1,262.
      • Horie LM, Gonzalez MC, Torrinhas RS, Cecconello I, Waitzberg DL. New specific equation to estimate resting energy expenditure in severely obese patients. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011; 19(5): 1,090-1,094.
      • Lazzer S, Agosti F, Silvestri P, Derumeaux-Burel H, Sartorio A. Prediction of resting energy expenditure in severely obese Italian women. J Endocrinol Invest. 2007; 30 (1): 20-27.
      • Lazzer S, Agosti F, Resnik M, Marazzi N, Mornati D, Sartorio A. Prediction of resting energy expenditure in severely obese Italian males. J Endocrinol Invest. 2007; 30 (9): 754-761.
      • Livingston EH, Kohlstadt I. Simplified resting metabolic rate - predicting formulas for normal-sized and obese individuals. Obes Res. 2005; 13 (7): 1,255-1,262.
      • Ruiz JR, Ortega FB, Rodriguez G, Alkorta P, Labayen I. Validity of resting energy expenditure predictive equations before and after an energy-restricted diet intervention in obese women. PLoS One. 2011; 6(9): e23759.
      • Scalfi L, Coltorti A, Sapio C, DiBiase G, Borrelli R, Contaldo F. Predicted and measured resting energy expenditure in healthy young women. Clin Nutr. 1993; 12: 1-7.
      • Siervo M, Boschi V, Falconi C. Which REE prediction equation should we use in normal-weight, overweight and obese women? Clin Nutr. 2003; 22(2): 193-204.
      • Skouroliakou M, Giannopoulou I, Kostara C, Vasilopoulou M. Comparison of predictive equations for resting metabolic rate in obese psychiatric patients taking olanzapine. Nutrition. 2009; 25(2): 188-193.
      • Spears KE, Kim H, Behall KM, Conway JM. Hand-held indirect calorimeter offers advantages compared with prediction equations, in a group of overweight women, to determine resting energy expenditures and estimated total energy expenditures during research screening. J Am Diet Assoc 2009; 109 (5): 836-845.
      • Weijs PJ. Validity of predictive equations for resting energy expenditure in US and Dutch overweight and obese class I and II adults aged 18-65 years. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008; 88(4): 959-970.
      • Weijs PJ, Vansant GA. Validity of predictive equations for resting energy expenditure in Belgian normal weight to morbid obese women. Clin Nutr. 2010; 29(3): 347-351.
  • Search Plan and Results: AWM: Mifflin-St. Jeor Equation 2013