In the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation, which component plays the most prominent role?

The Mifflin-St. Jeor equation is widely used to estimate basal metabolic rate (BMR) and ultimately helps in calculating daily caloric needs for weight management. Among the components—height, age, weight, and gender—weight plays a particularly prominent role in the equation.

Weight significantly influences BMR because it directly correlates with the amount of energy required by the body to maintain basic physiological functions at rest. The more a person weighs, the higher their BMR generally is due to the increased energy demands of maintaining and supporting a larger mass of body tissue. Therefore, in the context of the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation, weight is the primary factor in determining caloric needs, as it has a direct impact on energy expenditure.

Height, age, and gender also contribute to the BMR estimation but to a lesser extent. Height affects body surface area and metabolic processes, age accounts for metabolic decline over time, and gender accounts for differences in body composition and metabolic rates between men and women. However, even when these factors are included, weight is often seen as the most critical variable in this equation. This highlights how essential understanding and accurately measuring weight is in the assessment of energy needs for individuals, particularly in weight