Editorial policy

How FindTDEE content is made

Diet and fitness advice can affect your health, so this page sets out who writes it, where the numbers come from, and where our own interests are involved.

Medical disclaimer

FindTDEE provides general educational information and estimates, not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Calculator results are estimates from population equations, not measurements of your body. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or exercise, and especially before eating at a large calorie deficit, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, have a medical condition, take medication, or have a history of disordered eating.

Who writes it

Every guide and calculator is written and built by Tomek Spade, a software developer and long-time lifter. He is not a doctor, registered dietitian, or certified coach, and the site doesn't claim otherwise. The guides explain the published equations and research behind calorie, macro, and training numbers. They are not personalized advice.

How AI is used. Many guides were first drafted with AI writing tools, working from an outline, a fixed set of figures, and a short list of vetted sources. AI made it practical for one person to cover the questions readers ask most often. Tomek chooses the topics, edits the drafts, and checks the numbers against the calculators and cited research before a guide goes live. Guides are being revised over time to add his own training and tracking experience. AI is never used to invent studies, statistics, testimonials, or credentials.

Where the numbers come from

  • Calculators use published equations: Mifflin-St Jeor, Harris-Benedict, Katch-McArdle, and Cunningham for resting energy expenditure, the Adult Compendium of Physical Activities for MET values, and the US Navy and Jackson-Pollock methods for body-fat estimates.
  • Guides name the study, position stand, or guideline behind a specific claim (for example, “Morton et al., 2018”). Where the evidence is limited or mixed, the guide says so rather than overstating it.
  • No invented data. We don't make up statistics, studies, testimonials, or expert quotes.

How comparisons are made

Our “best of” pages (calculators, calorie apps, supplements, gyms) are desk comparisons, not lab tests. They compare published features, pricing, methods, and the research behind each option. When a page reflects personal use, it says so. When it compares on specs, it says that too. Prices and features change, so check the provider before you buy.

Conflicts of interest

  • Our own products. FindTDEE and the FindCals calorie tracker are made by the same team. When a guide or comparison mentions either one, the page says it's ours.
  • Advertising. The site may show ads. Advertisers don't pay for placement in guides or comparisons, and they don't review content before it's published.
  • Donations. Readers can support the site voluntarily. Donations don't buy coverage or influence recommendations.

Updates and corrections

Each guide shows the date it was last updated. Pages are revised when the methodology improves or new research changes a recommendation. If you find an error, email tomek@findtdee.com or use the contact page, and the page will be corrected.

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