Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Calculator

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Calculator for Endocrinology. Use the result as an estimate to be checked against the clinical trajectory. It is not a measured daily burn, an automatic calorie deficit or a guarantee of weight stability.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

The calculator multiplies the Mifflin resting-energy estimate by the entered whole-day factor. FAO describes PAL using basal energy; substituting predicted resting energy makes this a practical approximation rather than an exact implementation of a measured PAL study.

When to use this calculator

Compare transparent energy-budget scenarios during adult nutrition assessment. Write down the factor and how it was selected, so uncertainty is visible instead of concealed behind a sedentary or active label.

Inputs used

  • Mifflin-St Jeor adult inputs
  • Selected whole-day physical activity level

Clinical interpretation

Use the result as an estimate to be checked against the clinical trajectory. It is not a measured daily burn, an automatic calorie deficit or a guarantee of weight stability.

Worked example

The 80-kg, 180-cm, 40-year male-coefficient Mifflin estimate is 1730. Factors 1.4 and 1.6 give 2422 and 2768 kcal/day respectively. The resulting 346-kcal spread is useful for examining sensitivity to the activity assumption.

Limitations and safety notes

No accelerometer data or direct calorimetry are used. The method does not account for adaptive changes during weight loss or separate the effects of illness, medication and body composition.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no automatic weight-loss target?

A maintenance estimate does not establish an appropriate deficit, especially when intake adequacy, illness or an eating disorder needs assessment.

References

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2305711/
  • https://www.fao.org/4/y5686e/y5686e07.htm

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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