1. What is the Calorie Calculator?

The Mayo Clinic Calorie Calculator estimates your daily calorie needs based on the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for BMR and activity factors. It helps determine how many calories you need to maintain your current weight.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses two-step calculation:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in centimeters
• \( age \) — Age in years
• \( s \) — +5 (male) or -161 (female)
• \( Activity Factor \) — 1.2 (sedentary) to 1.9 (extra active)

Explanation: First calculates Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), then adjusts for activity level to estimate total daily energy expenditure.

3. Importance of Calorie Calculation

Details: Knowing your calorie needs helps with weight management - maintaining, losing, or gaining weight in a healthy way.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your accurate weight in kg, height in cm, age in years, and select your typical activity level. For weight loss, consume fewer calories than calculated.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate for most people, but individual variations in metabolism can affect actual needs.

Q2: Should I eat fewer calories to lose weight?
A: A deficit of 500 kcal/day typically leads to about 0.5kg weight loss per week. Don't go below 1200 kcal/day without medical supervision.

Q3: Why use Mifflin-St Jeor equation?
A: It's currently considered the most accurate BMR equation for healthy individuals.

Q4: How often should I recalculate?
A: Recalculate after significant weight changes (5+ kg) or activity level changes.

Q5: What if I'm very muscular or have high body fat?
A: The calculation may be less accurate. Athletes may need more calories, while those with high body fat may need fewer.