BUSINESS SPEAK · TDEE
TDEE: Total daily energy expenditure
The calories your body burns in a full day.
What it means
TDEE is your resting burn (BMR) × an activity factor, from 1.2 for a desk job to 1.9 for athletes. Eating below it loses weight; above it gains weight.
Where you’ll meet it
- About 7,700 kcal is roughly 1 kg of body fat, so 500 kcal a day under TDEE is about 0.5 kg a week.
- It is an estimate; real needs vary from person to person.
Worked example
Scenario: A resting burn of 1,600 kcal and a moderately active lifestyle (1.55).
- TDEE: 1,600 × 1.55 = 2,480
- To lose about 0.5 kg a week: 2,480 − 500 = 1,980
Answer: About 2,480 kcal a day maintains weight.