{
  "id": "calorie-needs-calculator",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "name": "Calorie Needs Calculator",
  "shortName": "Calorie needs",
  "description": "Estimate daily maintenance calories and apply an optional daily adjustment.",
  "category": "Health & Fitness",
  "categorySlug": "health-fitness",
  "keywords": [
    "tdee",
    "maintenance calories",
    "daily calorie needs",
    "activity factor"
  ],
  "status": "live",
  "workStatus": "pending",
  "reviewStatus": "pending",
  "migrationStatus": "new",
  "engine": "native",
  "creator": null,
  "reviewer": null,
  "quality": {
    "availability": "live",
    "technicalReviewRecord": "/reviews/calorie-needs-calculator.json",
    "qualifiedReview": "pending",
    "qualifiedReviewer": null,
    "qualifiedReviewDate": null,
    "formulaVersion": "1.0.0",
    "referenceCoverage": "references-listed",
    "releaseTestScope": "Catalog and regression checks are not a professional formula audit; consult release evidence.",
    "historicalMetadataDate": "2026-08-18",
    "historicalMetadataNotice": "The imported date is not evidence of a completed human review."
  },
  "notice": "Adult estimate only. Do not use this tool as medical or eating-disorder treatment advice.",
  "urls": {
    "page": "/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator/",
    "definition": "/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator/definition.json",
    "schema": "/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator/schema.json",
    "llms": "/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator/llms.txt",
    "legacyDefinition": "/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator.json"
  },
  "queryExample": "https://askcalculators.com/calculator/calorie-needs-calculator/?sex=female&age=35&weightKg=70&heightCm=170&activityFactor=1.375&dailyAdjustment=0",
  "queryParameters": {
    "sex": {
      "label": "Equation sex constant",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "default": "female"
    },
    "age": {
      "label": "Age",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "default": 35
    },
    "weightKg": {
      "label": "Weight",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "default": 70
    },
    "heightCm": {
      "label": "Height",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "default": 170
    },
    "activityFactor": {
      "label": "Activity factor",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "default": 1.375
    },
    "dailyAdjustment": {
      "label": "Daily calorie adjustment",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 0
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "sex",
      "label": "Equation sex constant",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "defaultValue": "female",
      "options": [
        {
          "label": "Female constant",
          "value": "female"
        },
        {
          "label": "Male constant",
          "value": "male"
        }
      ],
      "width": "full"
    },
    {
      "id": "age",
      "label": "Age",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "defaultValue": 35,
      "min": 18,
      "max": 120,
      "step": 1,
      "width": "half"
    },
    {
      "id": "weightKg",
      "label": "Weight",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "defaultValue": 70,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 500,
      "step": 0.1,
      "suffix": " kg",
      "width": "half"
    },
    {
      "id": "heightCm",
      "label": "Height",
      "type": "number",
      "required": true,
      "defaultValue": 170,
      "min": 50,
      "max": 300,
      "step": 0.1,
      "suffix": " cm",
      "width": "half"
    },
    {
      "id": "activityFactor",
      "label": "Activity factor",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "defaultValue": 1.375,
      "options": [
        {
          "label": "Sedentary — 1.2",
          "value": 1.2
        },
        {
          "label": "Light activity — 1.375",
          "value": 1.375
        },
        {
          "label": "Moderate activity — 1.55",
          "value": 1.55
        },
        {
          "label": "Very active — 1.725",
          "value": 1.725
        },
        {
          "label": "Extra active — 1.9",
          "value": 1.9
        }
      ],
      "width": "half"
    },
    {
      "id": "dailyAdjustment",
      "label": "Daily calorie adjustment",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "min": -2000,
      "max": 2000,
      "step": 50,
      "suffix": " kcal",
      "help": "Optional; negative or positive",
      "width": "full"
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "maintenanceCalories",
      "label": "Estimated maintenance",
      "format": "integer",
      "suffix": " kcal/day",
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "targetCalories",
      "label": "Adjusted daily target",
      "format": "integer",
      "suffix": " kcal/day"
    },
    {
      "id": "bmr",
      "label": "Estimated BMR",
      "format": "integer",
      "suffix": " kcal/day"
    },
    {
      "id": "weeklyEnergyDifference",
      "label": "Weekly energy adjustment",
      "format": "integer",
      "suffix": " kcal/week"
    }
  ],
  "formula": {
    "expression": "Maintenance calories = Mifflin–St Jeor BMR × activity factor"
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "label": "Reproducible default-input example (not a personal recommendation)",
      "inputs": {
        "sex": "female",
        "age": 35,
        "weightKg": 70,
        "heightCm": 170,
        "activityFactor": 1.375,
        "dailyAdjustment": 0
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "Mifflin et al. equation abstract",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2305711/"
    }
  ]
}