TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)
Your full daily calorie burn — BMR plus digestion, exercise, and everyday movement — the number deficits are set against.
TDEE stacks four layers: basal metabolic rate (the resting majority), the thermic effect of food (~10%), exercise, and NEAT — the steps, chores, and fidgeting that quietly swing hundreds of calories between individuals. Calculators estimate it from BMR times an activity factor; real-world tracking refines the guess.
Its treatment role is as the moving target: every ten pounds lost lowers TDEE, so the intake that produced loss eventually merely maintains — the mechanics inside most plateaus. The empowering flip side is that NEAT is adjustable at will: a daily walk habit raises the whole equation without gym logistics. Recomputing TDEE after each major scale milestone keeps expectations and intake honest.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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