Expertise & Methodology

Why this page exists

Health calculators influence real-life decisions: how much to eat, what to weigh, how to interpret a child's growth chart. When a number affects how someone treats their body, the source and method behind it matter. This page documents Calorique's data sources, methodology, editorial process, and update cadence.

Primary data sources

• USDA FoodData Central

  Comprehensive nutrient database for 410+ foods on /foods/. Calories, macros (protein/carbs/fat), fiber, micronutrients sourced per 100g and standard serving sizes.

• CDC Growth Charts (Children & Teens)

  BMI percentile data for ages 2-20 by sex. Foundation for /bmi-children/ percentile classification (underweight <5th, healthy 5-85th, overweight 85-95th, obese ≥95th).

• WHO Growth Standards (Children Under 2)

  International growth standards for ages 0-2, used for early childhood comparisons.

• Mifflin-St Jeor Equation (BMR)

  Most accurate basal metabolic rate equation per peer-reviewed research. Men: 10×weight + 6.25×height − 5×age + 5. Women: 10×weight + 6.25×height − 5×age − 161. Used in /tdee/ and /calorie-calculator/.

• Compendium of Physical Activities (MET values)

  Metabolic equivalent values for 800+ activities (Ainsworth et al). Powers exercise calorie burn calculations on /foods/[food]/ exercise burn tables.

• IOM Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)

  Recommended daily macronutrient ranges (Carbs 45-65%, Protein 10-35%, Fat 20-35% of calories) and micronutrient RDAs.

Calculation methodology

• BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

  We use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, which has the highest validated accuracy in adults vs Harris-Benedict (~5% deviation) per ADA peer-reviewed comparison studies. Mifflin-St Jeor uses kg, cm, and years.

• TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)

  TDEE = BMR × activity factor. Sedentary 1.2 / Light 1.375 / Moderate 1.55 / Active 1.725 / Very Active 1.9. Disclosed assumptions in /tdee/ output.

• BMI classification

  Adult BMI = weight(kg) / height(m)². WHO categories: <18.5 underweight, 18.5-24.9 healthy, 25-29.9 overweight, ≥30 obese (with class I/II/III sub-bands). For children/teens, we use CDC age-and-sex-specific percentiles instead of fixed cutoffs.

• Calorie burn from activities

  Calories burned = MET × weight (kg) × duration (hours). Source: Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al, updated 2011). Caveat: actual burn varies ±15% based on individual fitness level, terrain, intensity.

Editorial standards

• All calculators run client-side. No height, weight, or health data transmitted off-device.
• Nutrition data shows USDA source ID and access date when displayed in /foods/[food]/ pages.
• BMI for children/teens uses CDC age-and-sex-specific percentiles, not adult cutoffs.
• Calorie burn estimates show MET source and disclose ±15% individual variability.
• Articles cite primary sources (USDA, CDC, WHO, peer-reviewed journals) — not fitness-influencer aggregator content.
• We display medical disclaimers prominently — calculators are informational, not medical advice. Consult a registered dietitian or physician for personalized guidance.

Health disclaimer

Calorique calculators are informational and educational tools. They are not medical advice and should not replace consultation with a registered dietitian, physician, or other qualified health professional. Individual results vary based on factors not captured by general formulas.

Update cadence

Corrections and feedback

Email [email protected] for factual corrections. We respond within 14 days.