1. What is the Mayo Clinic Maintenance Calorie Equation?

The Mayo Clinic Maintenance Calorie equation estimates daily calorie needs based on basal metabolic rate (BMR) and activity level. It helps determine how many calories you need to maintain your current weight.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for BMR and activity multipliers:

Where:

• \( BMR \) — Basal Metabolic Rate (kcal/day)
• \( activity\_factor \) — Multiplier based on activity level (1.2-1.9)

BMR Calculation (Mifflin-St Jeor Equation):
For men: \( BMR = (10 \times weight\ in\ kg) + (6.25 \times height\ in\ cm) - (5 \times age) + 5 \)
For women: \( BMR = (10 \times weight\ in\ kg) + (6.25 \times height\ in\ cm) - (5 \times age) - 161 \)

3. Importance of Maintenance Calorie Calculation

Details: Knowing your maintenance calories helps with weight management, whether you want to maintain, lose, or gain weight. It serves as the foundation for any nutrition plan.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your weight in kg, height in cm, age in years, select gender and activity level. For accurate results, use your most recent measurements.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation?
A: It's currently considered the most accurate BMR equation for healthy individuals.

Q2: How often should I recalculate my maintenance calories?
A: Recalculate whenever your weight changes significantly (5+ kg) or your activity level changes substantially.

Q3: Are these calories exact?
A: They're estimates. Individual variations in metabolism can cause actual needs to differ by ±200 kcal.

Q4: What if I want to lose or gain weight?
A: For weight loss, consume 300-500 kcal below maintenance. For gain, consume 300-500 kcal above.

Q5: Does this account for body composition?
A: No. Those with higher muscle mass may need more calories than calculated.