- How many calories should I eat a day?
- Adult women typically need 1,600–2,400 kcal/day and adult men 2,000–3,000 kcal/day, depending on age, size, and activity level. Use the calculator to get a number tailored to your stats and goal.
- What is TDEE?
- TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) is the total calories you burn in a day, including BMR plus activity, digestion, and exercise. Eating below TDEE creates a deficit for weight loss; eating above it creates a surplus for weight gain.
- How accurate is a calorie calculator?
- The Mifflin-St Jeor equation used here is within about 10% of measured values for most adults. Calorie calculators are estimates, not exact prescriptions — adjust by 100–200 kcal based on real-world results and talk to a registered dietitian for personalized guidance.
- How big a deficit do I need to lose 1 lb per week?
- A deficit of about 500 kcal/day (3,500 kcal/week) is the classic estimate for losing ~1 lb of body fat per week, though real losses vary with water, muscle, and metabolic adaptation.