How does MFP calculate the calorie goals?

waspleg
waspleg Posts: 2 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
When you create a profile it asks for a goal weight and then it tells you what the max calories per day are. I know it asks for height/weight/sex/activity levels but how are these calorie intake levels calculated? How accurate are they?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Your calorie goal is determined by how many calories MFP estimates you need to maintain your body weight (as determined by your age, current weight, and activity level BEFORE intentional exercise). It will then either add or subtract calories to meet your goal (weight gain or loss). So if you tell MFP you want to lose one pound a week, it will give you a goal that is 500 calories per day LESS than what you would need to maintain.

    Many people find that MFP's estimates are accurate for them and they don't need to do any further adjustments. Sometimes people do find, after a few weeks of observation, that they do need to adjust, that MFP either over- or under-estimated how many calories they need per day.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,201 Member
    What Jane said.

    And just FTR, what you tell MFP as your goal weight has zero effect on the calorie goal it estimates for you. It just uses that for some motivational/progress message stuff. The weight loss process is the same, no matter your goal weight. The only effect it has, is that once you reach goal weight, you stop losing. (Keeping in mind, of course, that you can change your goal weight as many times as you want to. 😉).
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,156 Member
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  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    waspleg wrote: »
    How accurate are they?

    In all probability more accurate than people's food logging. Think of it as a reasonable start point from which you may have to adjust after a month or so.

    Here's the support doc explaining how MFP works out your goal - https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032626011-How-does-MyFitnessPal-work-
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,975 Member
    waspleg wrote: »
    I know it asks for height/weight/sex/activity levels but how are these calorie intake levels calculated? How accurate are they?

    They are based on statistical averages, so for most people the estimate will be accurate or slightly off (under or over). For a small minority, the estimates will be significantly off (hundreds of calories over or under).

    Studying your weight trend over a longer period of time will show you if the estimate is accurate for you.
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