Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using TDEECal.com (the "Website") and our TDEE Calculator (the "Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our Service.

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to this page. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

2. Medical Disclaimer

You acknowledge and agree that:

• No Doctor-Patient Relationship: Use of this Service does not create a doctor-patient, therapist-patient, or any other professional healthcare relationship between you and TDEECal.com, its owners, operators, or contributors.
• Consult Healthcare Professionals: Always seek the advice of your physician, registered dietitian, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition, diet, exercise program, or weight management. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information you obtained from this Website.
• Emergency Situations: If you think you may have a medical emergency (including but not limited to eating disorders, severe calorie restriction symptoms, or unexplained rapid weight changes), call your doctor or emergency services (911 in the US) immediately. This Website is not designed for emergency situations.
• Individual Variance: The calculator provides estimates based on population averages using scientifically validated formulas. Individual results vary due to genetics, medical conditions, medications, metabolic adaptation, body composition, and numerous other factors. See our Calculator Limitations page for detailed information.
• Not for Certain Populations: This calculator is not designed for and should not be used by:
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Individuals under 18 years of age
  • Individuals with diagnosed eating disorders or disordered eating patterns
  • Individuals with metabolic or endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes, PCOS, etc.) without medical supervision
  • Individuals recovering from illness, surgery, or malnutrition
  • Individuals taking medications that significantly affect metabolism
  If you fall into any of these categories, consult a qualified healthcare professional instead.
• Weight Loss Risks: Extreme calorie restriction can cause serious health problems including but not limited to nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, metabolic slowdown, hormonal imbalances, gallstones, hair loss, weakened immune system, and psychological impacts. Never eat below 1,200 calories/day (women) or 1,500 calories/day (men) without medical supervision.
• Scientific Basis: While our calculator uses peer-reviewed, scientifically validated formulas (see our Sources page), nutrition and metabolism science is continuously evolving. Recommendations may change as new research emerges.

3. Calculator Accuracy and Limitations

You understand and agree that:

3.1 Estimation, Not Guarantee

Our TDEE Calculator provides estimates based on the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and other validated formulas. These estimates have an average error margin of ±10% for approximately 98% of the healthy adult population. This means:

• If your calculated TDEE is 2,000 calories, your actual TDEE could reasonably be anywhere from 1,800 to 2,200 calories
• For approximately 2% of users, accuracy may be lower due to individual factors
• Results should be used as a starting point, not an absolute prescription

3.2 Known Limitations

The calculator has documented limitations, including but not limited to:

• Does not account for body composition (muscle vs. fat mass)
• Relies on self-reported activity level (often overestimated)
• Cannot detect metabolic adaptation from previous dieting
• Does not factor in medical conditions or medications affecting metabolism
• Less accurate for very young, very old, very lean, or very obese individuals

See our comprehensive Limitations page for full details.

3.3 Validation and Adjustment

You agree to:

• Track your results (weight, measurements, energy levels) for at least 2-3 weeks
• Adjust calorie intake based on real-world results, not just calculator output
• Seek professional help if results are unexpected or concerning

3.4 No Guarantees of Results

We make no guarantees or warranties regarding weight loss, weight gain, muscle gain, or any other outcomes. Individual results depend on adherence, accuracy of tracking, genetics, lifestyle factors, and numerous variables outside our control.

4. Permitted Use of Service

4.1 Personal Use Only

The Service is provided for your personal, non-commercial use. You may:

• Use the calculator for yourself as many times as needed
• Share your results with healthcare providers, trainers, or dietitians
• Share links to our Website with others

4.2 Prohibited Uses

You may NOT:

• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute our calculator code or design without permission
• Use our Service to provide medical, nutritional, or health advice to others in a professional capacity (unless you're a licensed professional using it as a supplementary tool)
• Scrape, crawl, or automatically extract data from our Website
• Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble our calculator
• Use our Service for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws
• Frame or embed our calculator on another website without explicit permission
• Remove, obscure, or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices

4.3 Educational and Professional Use

Healthcare professionals, educators, and fitness professionals may reference our calculator as a tool, provided they:

• Credit TDEECal.com as the source
• Do not claim our calculator as their own creation
• Understand they are responsible for their professional advice to clients/patients
• Link to our Website rather than copying content

5. Privacy and Data Collection

We do NOT collect, store, or transmit your personal calculator inputs (age, weight, height, etc.) to our servers.

5.1 How the Calculator Works

• All calculations happen in your browser using JavaScript (client-side processing)
• Your inputs never leave your device
• We have no database of user calculations
• No email, registration, or account creation is required

5.2 Local Storage (Optional)

• Your browser may save your last inputs locally (on your device only) for convenience
• This is controlled by your browser settings and can be cleared anytime
• We do not access this locally stored data

5.3 Analytics and Cookies

• We may use standard web analytics (Google Analytics or similar) to understand how people use our Website
• These analytics collect general usage data (pages viewed, time on site, general location) but NOT your calculator inputs
• You can opt out of analytics using browser extensions or settings

For complete details, see our Privacy Policy.

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Our Content

All content on this Website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, calculator code, design, and educational materials, is the property of TDEECal.com or its content suppliers and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Scientific Formulas

The mathematical formulas we use (Mifflin-St Jeor, Harris-Benedict Revised, etc.) are in the public domain, published in peer-reviewed scientific literature, and freely available for use. We make no proprietary claim to these formulas.

6.3 Open Source References

We provide full citations to all scientific sources on our Sources page, in the spirit of transparency and education.

6.4 Linking to Our Website

You may link to our Website from your blog, social media, or website, provided the link:

• Does not imply endorsement by us without permission
• Does not misrepresent our Service or content
• Is not used in a way that damages our reputation

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

We disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Accuracy: While we strive for accuracy using validated formulas, we do not warrant that calculator results will be accurate for your individual circumstances
• Availability: We do not guarantee the Service will be available at all times or free from errors, bugs, or interruptions
• Fitness for Purpose: We do not warrant the Service is suitable for your particular health situation or goals
• Results: We make no guarantees regarding weight loss, weight gain, health improvements, or any other outcomes

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TDEECAL.COM, ITS OWNERS, OPERATORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• Health complications, injuries, or adverse effects from following calculator results
• Loss of weight, failure to lose weight, or unintended weight changes
• Nutritional deficiencies, metabolic issues, or hormonal imbalances
• Emotional or psychological impacts from weight management attempts
• Reliance on inaccurate or incomplete information
• Technical errors, bugs, or unavailability of the Service

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless TDEECal.com, its owners, operators, contributors, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms of Use
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
• Any health complications or adverse effects you experience (unless directly caused by our gross negligence, which would need to be proven)

10. Third-Party Links and Content

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or resources (such as scientific studies, health organizations, or recommended products).

You acknowledge and agree that:

• We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or content of third-party sites
• Links do not imply endorsement unless explicitly stated
• We are not liable for any damages arising from your use of third-party sites
• Affiliate links (if any) will be clearly disclosed

All scientific references are provided for educational purposes and link to publicly available research. See our Sources page for full citations.

11. Changes to the Service

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service (or any part of it) at any time
• Update calculator formulas or methodologies based on new scientific research
• Add or remove features without notice
• Impose limits on certain features or restrict access to parts of the Service

We will make reasonable efforts to notify users of significant changes, but we are not obligated to do so.

12. Governing Law and Disputes

12.1 Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your State/Country], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through:

1. Informal Negotiation: Contact us via our Contact page to attempt to resolve the issue informally
2. Mediation: If informal negotiation fails, we agree to attempt mediation before pursuing litigation
3. Binding Arbitration: If mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration rather than in court

12.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us:

• Email: [Your Contact Email]
• Contact Form: tdeecal.com/contact
• Website: tdeecal.com

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to inquiries within 5-7 business days.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and TDEECal.com regarding the use of our Service.

These Terms supersede any prior agreements, communications, or understandings, whether written or oral.