How it works
TDEE starts from your BMR (basal metabolic rate) via the Mifflin-St Jeor equation:
BMR = 10·weight(kg) + 6.25·height(cm) − 5·age + s
where s = +5 for men and s = −161 for women. TDEE then multiplies BMR by an activity factor:
- Sedentary × 1.2 · Lightly active × 1.375 · Moderately active × 1.55
- Very active × 1.725 · Athlete × 1.9
Worked example
A 30-year-old man, 180 cm, 80 kg:
- BMR ≈ 1,780 kcal
- Moderately active TDEE ≈ 1,780 × 1.55 ≈ 2,759 kcal/day
- Sedentary ≈ 2,136 · Very active ≈ 3,071 kcal/day