1. What Is Total Energy Expenditure?

Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) represents the total number of calories your body burns in a day, including basal metabolic rate, physical activity, and the thermic effect of food. It's essential for weight management and nutritional planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the TEE formula:

Where:

• \( BMR \) — Basal Metabolic Rate (calories burned at rest)
• \( Activity\ Factor \) — Multiplier based on activity level (1.2-1.9)
• \( Thermic\ Effect \) — Calories burned digesting food (typically 10% of total calories)

Explanation: This equation combines your resting energy needs with activity-related expenditure and the energy cost of food processing.

3. Importance of TEE Calculation

Details: Accurate TEE calculation is crucial for weight management, athletic performance optimization, medical nutrition therapy, and designing personalized diet plans.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter BMR in kcal/day, select appropriate activity factor based on your lifestyle, and include thermic effect (typically 100-300 kcal for most diets). All values must be valid positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
A: BMR is the number of calories your body needs to perform basic life-sustaining functions at complete rest, such as breathing and circulation.

Q2: How do I determine my activity factor?
A: Choose based on your daily activity: Sedentary (office work), Light (light exercise 1-3 days/week), Moderate (moderate exercise 3-5 days/week), Very Active (hard exercise 6-7 days/week), Extremely Active (athlete training).

Q3: What is the thermic effect of food?
A: The energy required to digest, absorb, and process nutrients from food, typically accounting for 10% of your total calorie intake.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate for most people, but individual variations in metabolism, body composition, and genetics can affect accuracy.

Q5: Should I adjust my calorie intake based on TEE?
A: For weight maintenance, consume calories equal to TEE. For weight loss, create a deficit of 500-1000 kcal/day. For weight gain, create a surplus of 300-500 kcal/day.