Understanding your activity level can be difficult. Our calculator uses the Harris Benedict formula, which includes an activity level.

• Lightly active: (Light exercise or sports 1-3 days/week)
• Moderately active: (Moderate exercise or sports 3-5 days/week)
• Very active: (Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days/week)
• Extra active: (Very hard exercise or sports and physical job or 2x training)

If this makes it hard to understand your activity level, you could also try to understand your activity level through your steps. 'Catrine Tudor-Locke of the University of Massachusetts has been studying pedometer walking for many years. Her research established these categories for healthy adults based on the steps per day they logged.' Read more of this article.

• Low Active: 5,000 to 7,499 steps per day is typical of daily activity excluding sports and exercise and might be considered low active. The average American walks 5,900 to 6,900 steps per day, putting the majority in the low active category.
• Somewhat Active: 7,500 to 9,999 steps per day likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered somewhat active.
• Active: 10,000 steps per day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as active. This makes it a good daily goal for healthy people who want a quick indicator they are getting in their daily exercise.
• Highly Active: Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as highly active.