Activity Level

All TDEE calculators use activity levels and coefficients from 'Energy and protein requirements: Report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation. WHO Technical Report Series No. 724', 1985.

Almost one half of the data used to generate the equations for adults were from studies done in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s on Italian men with relatively high BMR values.

Now, compare yourself to an average Italian man from the 1930s. Instead of driving, did he walk? Did he ride an elevator or climb stairs? Do you play soccer as much as Italians did in the 1930s? :-) It looks like what passed for 'lightly active' for an Italian man during the Great Depression and WWII may not pass for 'lightly active' today. Take that into account when selecting the activity level.