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Estimate daily kilocalories for adult inpatients using Mifflin–St Jeor resting metabolic rate, then multiply by an illustrative illness stress factor and a low hospital activity factor (bed rest, chair, or limited ward ambulation). The page also shows a 25–30 kcal/kg/day rule-of-thumb band for comparison in lectures. This is not indirect calorimetry, not the Penn State equation, and not for writing enteral or parenteral orders. More calculators: medical & health.
Last updated: April 20, 2026
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Estimated energy (teaching)
2,543 kcal/day
≈ 31 kcal/kg (actual body weight)
BMR (MSJ)
1,713
Stress × activity
1.35 × 1.1
25–30 kcal/kg band (rule-of-thumb)
2,050 – 2,460 kcal/day
Estimated 2,543 kcal/day (31 kcal/kg) exceeds a simple 30 kcal/kg ceiling (2,460 kcal/day)—review for overfeeding risk, fluid tolerance, and hyperglycemia in real care; stress factors here are illustrative.
Class I obesity and higher: many protocols adjust weight in predictive equations (for example adjusted or ideal body weight). This demo uses actual weight in Mifflin–St Jeor—confirm with a dietitian for protein-energy targets and monitoring.
Uses sex, age, height, and weight to estimate oxygen-cost–linked baseline energy before stress is added.
Higher multipliers model increased catabolism themes in sepsis, trauma, or burns teaching—real ICU dosing uses validated pathways and often indirect calorimetry when available.
Activity coefficients stay modest to reflect sedentary acute care rather than gym or occupational workloads.
Multiplying weight by 25 and 30 gives a quick classroom bracket to compare against the equation-based estimate—useful when discussing obesity adjustments and overfeeding risk.
Tube feeding administration requires product-specific kcal/mL, free water, protein modules, and tolerance monitoring beyond a single daily calorie number.
In teaching, calorie targets are paired with fluid plans, electrolytes, and glycemic protocols—see maintenance fluid tools separately on this site.
Default demo: male 45 y, 82 kg, 178 cm, moderate stress (×1.35), bed rest (×1.1) → see live total in the calculator card (typically near the 25–30 kcal/kg band for discussion).
kcal/day ≈ round( MifflinStJeorBMR × stressMultiplier × activityMultiplier )
After validating adult ranges, the tool computes BMR with the Mifflin–St Jeor coefficients, multiplies by the selected stress and activity factors, rounds to the nearest whole kcal/day, and divides by weight to show kcal/kg for bedside teaching comparisons.
The Penn State equations incorporate minute ventilation and body temperature for select mechanically ventilated patients. This page intentionally stays equation-light for introductory lectures; advanced ICU courses should use institution-specific tools.
Pair calories with fluids using our maintenance fluid calculator.
Get a Custom Calculator for Your PlatformIf stress is switched from moderate (×1.35) to severe (×1.55) while holding bed rest (×1.1), the estimated total rises proportionally—used in class to discuss why ICU nutrition reassessment is scheduled after fever curves and ventilator changes, not set once at admission.
Share it for clinical nutrition and inpatient education
Suggested hashtags: #ClinicalNutrition #HospitalMedicine #MedEd #BMR #Calculator