Simple explanations to help you understand the numbers behind everyday health and fitness decisions.
Total Daily Energy Expenditure is an estimate of all the energy your body uses in a day. It combines your resting needs with movement, work, exercise and the energy used to digest food.
TDEE is best viewed as a starting point. Tracking your weight trend and energy levels over several weeks can help you understand whether the estimate is close to your real-world needs. Try the TDEE Calculator.
Daily calorie needs differ with body size, age, sex and activity. A calculator can estimate maintenance calories, but appetite, training, sleep and individual metabolism also influence the amount that works for you.
Large or sudden restrictions can be difficult to sustain. If you have a medical condition, a history of disordered eating, are pregnant or have special nutritional needs, seek personalized professional guidance.
BMI compares weight with height and places the result in a broad category. It is convenient for population screening, but it cannot distinguish muscle from fat or describe fat distribution.
Use BMI as one piece of information, not a verdict about health. Explore your result with the BMI Calculator.
BMR estimates energy used at rest. TDEE starts with BMR and adds energy used through daily activity. For food planning, TDEE is usually the more practical figure.
BMI uses height and weight, while body fat percentage estimates body composition. Both are approximations with limitations; trends measured consistently are often more useful than a single result.
Protein, carbohydrates and fat are macronutrients. They provide energy and support structure, recovery and normal body functions. Needs vary, and no single ratio is right for everyone.