ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide to Exam Mastery!

The Mifflin-St. Jeor Equation is widely regarded as one of the most accurate methods for predicting an individual's resting metabolic rate (RMR). This equation takes into account factors such as age, weight, height, and sex to provide a more personalized estimate of energy expenditure than some earlier formulas.

This equation was developed in 1990 based on a study of a diverse sample of individuals, which allows it to reflect metabolic variances more accurately across different body types compared to older formulas like Harris-Benedict. While the Harris-Benedict Formula has historical significance and was widely used for many years, the Mifflin-St. Jeor Equation has been favored in recent years for its greater precision, particularly in modern populations.

Other formulas, such as the Schofield Equation and the Cunningham Equation, are also used to estimate metabolic rates but may be more relevant in specific contexts or populations. The Schofield Equation, for example, is commonly used for certain age groups and is based on different datasets, while the Cunningham Equation specifically accounts for lean body mass. However, in general practice when it comes to estimating RMR accurately for most individuals, the Mifflin-St. Jeor Equation remains the preferred choice.