TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)
Plain-English definition of TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) — part of our health & fitness glossary.
Definition
TDEE is the total number of calories you burn in a day, including BMR, activity, the thermic effect of food, and non-exercise activity. Weight loss requires eating below TDEE; maintenance requires eating at it.
Worked example
A 35-year-old, 75 kg, 175 cm, moderately active office worker has a BMR of ~1,700 kcal/day and a TDEE of roughly 2,400 kcal/day. Eating 500 kcal/day below TDEE targets ~0.5 kg/week weight loss.
Why it matters
Health calculations are most useful as ballpark figures, not prescriptions. BMR and TDEE are estimates based on population averages — they get you within roughly 10–15% of your actual energy needs, which is enough to plan around.
Common mistake
Treating calculator output as exact. Measured metabolic rate varies by 10–20% between individuals of the same age, sex, and weight. Use the number as a starting point and adjust based on two to four weeks of real-world results.
Calculators that use this concept
See also
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