The article deals with the generation of a prediction equation for basal metabolic rate (BMR) of well-nourished Indian males, from prospective measurements on 121 males, using a single validated technique. The equation related BMR to simple measures such as weight (WT) and age, and was given by: BMR (kJ/d) = 48.7 * WT-14.1 * AGE + 3599. The equation was internally as well as externally validated against other Indian databases and the net differences of < 2% (100 kJ/d), were non-significant. Interestingly, American BMRs were predicted to within 0.5% (28 kJ/d) by this equation, while European BMRs were significantly higher than predicted by 6.3% (433 kJ/d). Similar results were obtained on validating the American and European data against the equations of C. K. J. Henry & D. G. Rees (1991) Eur J. Clin. Nutr. 45, 177-185. Such results suggest that there are no differences in the BMR of age- and weight-matched Asian Indian males, other tropical populations and Americans. This has implications in the estimation of energy expenditure and hence energy requirements for these populations.