A worked comparison, without entering personal information
This fictional example uses the male source equation, age 30, weight 80 kg, height 180 cm and the inactive activity assumption. The intake of 2,200 kcal/day is an illustrative entry, not a recommendation.
`753.07 − (10.83 × 30) + (6.50 × 180) + (14.10 × 80) = 2,726.17 kcal/day`
Round the estimate to 2,726 kcal/day. The displayed difference is 2,726 − 2,200 = 526 kcal/day below the model estimate. That subtraction does not predict an individual’s weight change or show that the entered intake is appropriate.
Method and rounding
The tool uses the 2023 National Academies adult Estimated Energy Requirement equations, with separate source categories for male/female and four activity assumptions. It estimates maintenance energy for a weight-stable adult, rather than measuring metabolism. The official Health Canada table provides the same adult coefficients.
The calculation uses age in whole years, weight in kilograms and height in centimetres. It does not add another activity multiplier. It rounds estimated maintenance to the nearest whole kcal/day, then subtracts the whole-kcal intake you entered. Any percentage in “Show the maths” uses that displayed difference divided by the displayed maintenance estimate. The expander shows the exact equation, converted inputs and unrounded result for each scenario.
Choose an activity assumption for the whole day
Activity includes daily living, work, travel and recreation. The source’s categories increase from inactive through low active and active to very active. A workout count does not establish a category. Use “I do not know” to compare all four assumptions. The National Academies application chapter explains why applying a population estimate to an individual requires judgment.
What the comparison cannot establish
There is no generated calorie target, universal intake floor, macro prescription or goal-date calculation here. A positive difference means only that your entered number is below the rounded model estimate. It does not confirm a real deficit, nutritional adequacy or safety. Estimates can differ from individual needs, especially when body weight, health, treatment or activity changes.
The age range of 20–78 and limits of 32–318 kg and 122–244 cm are FuelForm’s supported input range, not a claim about the model’s validation limits. The tool does not calculate for pregnancy or breastfeeding; the NIDDK planner also distinguishes these situations from general adult use. Eating-disorder care and prescribed nutrition-treatment plans are outside this comparison’s scope.
The tool withholds a number if the entered measurements give BMI below 18.5. This is a product boundary based on CDC adult screening categories, not a diagnosis. BMI does not assess an individual’s health, and a result above that threshold does not establish suitability. A care team can help interpret needs in context.
Use better inputs, then interpret them with care
A model cannot correct missing drinks, uncertain portions or a restaurant estimate. The food diary guide and usable template help record a complete day. The food logging guide explains portions, ingredients and checks. For the separate limits of photo-assisted food estimates, read how FuelForm estimates nutrition.
Privacy and review
Inputs and results stay in this page’s memory; FuelForm does not send them to its server or write them to URLs or browser storage. Reset clears the fields and visible comparison. Optional analytics, when permitted, use fixed interaction names without entered values, calculated numbers or selected categories. Session recording is disabled on this route. Browser autofill, device memory and screenshots are outside that promise. Read the privacy policy for the website’s wider data practices.
This is FuelForm product education by its founder and product owner. Source equations and arithmetic were checked on 25 October 2026; that technical check is not clinical review or an assessment of a personal diet. Editorial standards explain our source and correction process.