TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)
Definition
The total number of calories your body burns in a day, combining basal metabolic rate, physical activity, and the thermic effect of food.
Formula
TDEE = BMR × Activity FactorTotal Daily Energy Expenditure represents the total calories your body burns in a 24-hour period. It combines three components: your Basal Metabolic Rate (60-75%), the thermic effect of food or TEF (about 10%), and physical activity including both exercise and non-exercise activity thermogenesis or NEAT (15-30%).
TDEE is calculated by multiplying your BMR by an activity factor: sedentary (1.2), lightly active (1.375), moderately active (1.55), very active (1.725), or extremely active (1.9). This gives you the number of calories needed to maintain your current weight.
Knowing your TDEE is the foundation of any weight management plan. Eating below your TDEE creates a deficit for weight loss; eating above creates a surplus for weight gain. Tracking actual weight changes over 2-4 weeks and adjusting intake accordingly provides the most accurate TDEE estimate for your individual metabolism.
Related Calculators
Related Terms
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)
healthThe number of calories your body needs to perform basic life-sustaining functions at complete rest, such as breathing, circulation, and cell production.
Calorie Deficit
healthA state where you consume fewer calories than your body burns, which is required for weight loss.
Calorie Surplus
healthA state where you consume more calories than your body burns, which is required for weight gain and muscle building.
Metabolic Rate
healthThe speed at which your body burns calories for energy, encompassing basal metabolic rate plus the energy used for activity and digestion.
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