Weight Loss Calculators

For those undertaking a weight loss program, there are a few tools that can help us gauge our success or efforts to lose weight.

I have summarised here a list of calculators that have different functions. Choose the ones that suit your particular diet program.

1. Food Calculators

Calculates nutrition and calories in the food you buy at supermarkets and order in restaurants.

2. Activity Calculators

Calculates calories burned when undertaking certain activities or exercises. The Activity Calculator also calculates BMI (Body Mass Index) BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate).

Here's what these acronyms mean.

BMI:

Also known as the Quetelet Index.

A statistical measure of the height and weight of a person. Instanly one can see if they are obese, overweight, the optimum weight or underweight. It is a simple numeric value of a person's "fatness" or "thiness". A normal weight has a BMI of between 18.5 and 25.

The BMI is used by WHO (World Health Organization) to calculates a country's obesity levels. A different BMI calculator is used for children to take into consideration a child's age.

BMR:

The amount of calories your body burns when resting but still awake. Resting means that your digestive system is empty (required after 12 hours of fasting), and you are in a temperate environment (not too cold nor too hot). The calories burnt during this resting stage are only necessary to power your organs such as heart, lungs and blood flow. Typically the liver will use the most energy, followed by the brain and least energy required is by the heart.

An Example:

A 55 year-old lady, weighing 59kgs (130 pounds), with a height of 168cm (5ft 6) has a BMI of 1266 kcal. To calculate the daily calorie needs, the BMI is multiplied by a factor of between 1.2 and 1.9 depending on daily activity level.

RMR:

Similar to BMR, but the person is monitored under less strict conditions.

3. Weight Loss Calculators

Calculates the daily calories your body needs to use in relation to calories consumed in order to achieve your weight loss goals.