BMR & TDEE Calculator
Created by Corinne
Prainito, BSc (ExHealthSc), Adv Dip Nat
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy your body uses at rest in an environment that's not too hot/cold, when the digestive system is inactive (no food/drink for about 12 hours). This energy supports the function of vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin.
Your BMR decreases with age and/or the loss of lean body mass (muscle). You can increase your BMR with regular cardiovascular exercise and weight training or any strength training that increases the amount of muscle you carry on your body.
Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) on the other hand, is the total number of calories that your body expends in 24 hours, including all activities. Your TDEE determines how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Knowing your maintenance level gives you a starting point from which to begin your fat loss, muscle gain or weight maintenance plan.
At best your TDEE is only a guestimate and you may need to experiment a little to find your exact maintenance level. This is because caloric expenditure can vary widely amongst seemingly identical individuals due to differences in inherited BMRs and/or the way the body responds to physical activity, menstrual cycle changes, drugs / herbal supplements, illness, previously consumed food and beverages, environmental temperature and stress levels.
The TDEE calculator above is unique because not only does it consider standard activity factors for a person that is mobile (ie. able to move about freely), it also takes other metabolic stressors into consideration, allowing you to understand what your caloric requirements are if you're injured, suffering from burns, have cancer, an infection or confined to a bed for rest or rehabilitation.
