What is the TDEE for a 280 lb woman?

The estimated TDEE for a lightly active 280 lb woman of average height and age 35 is approximately 2682 kcal/day. Sedentary would be 2340 kcal and very active would be 3364 kcal.

Calorie Guide · Imperial

Daily Calories for 280 lb Women

Q: How many calories should a 280 lb woman eat to lose weight?

A 280 lb woman who is lightly active should eat approximately 2182 kcal/day to lose about 1 lb per week. This is a 500 kcal deficit from the estimated TDEE of 2682 kcal.

Q: How many calories to maintain weight at 280 lbs?

To maintain weight at 280 lbs, a lightly active woman needs approximately 2682 kcal/day. This varies with activity level — from 2340 kcal (sedentary) to 3364 kcal (very active).

Exact calorie targets for 280 lb womans — weight loss, maintenance and muscle gain.

Calorie Needs: 280 lbs, Age 35

1950

BMR (at rest)

2340

Sedentary TDEE

2682
Lightly active TDEE

3023

Moderately active

2182

Weight loss target

2682

Maintenance

2982

Muscle gain target

How Many Calories Does a 280 lb Woman Need?

Using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation — the gold standard in nutrition science — a 280 lb woman (127.0 kg) of average height burns approximately 1950 kcal/day at rest (BMR). With typical daily activity, total calorie expenditure (TDEE) ranges from 2340 to 3364 kcal/day depending on activity level.

Current BMI at average height (5'4"): 48.0 — 🔴 Obese.

Calorie Targets by Goal

Goal	Daily Calories	Expected Result
🔵 Aggressive weight loss	1932 kcal	~1.5 lbs/week
📉 Weight loss	2182 kcal	~1 lb/week
✅ Maintenance	2682 kcal	Weight stable
💪 Lean bulk	2982 kcal	~0.5–0.75 lbs/week
🏋️ Aggressive bulk	3182 kcal	~1 lb/week

Calorie Needs by Activity Level

Activity Level	Description	Daily Calories
Sedentary	Desk job, minimal movement	2340 kcal
Lightly active	1–3 workouts/week	2682 kcal
Moderately active	3–5 workouts/week	3023 kcal
Very active	Hard training 6–7 days/week	3364 kcal

Macronutrient Breakdown at 2682 kcal (Maintenance)

Macro	% of Calories	Grams/day	Calories
Protein	30%	201 g	804 kcal
Carbohydrates	40%	268 g	1072 kcal
Fat	30%	89 g	801 kcal

For weight loss at 2182 kcal/day, increase protein to 35% (191 g) to preserve muscle during the deficit.

Get a personalized TDEE based on your exact height, age and activity level.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories should a 280 lb woman eat to lose weight?A lightly active 280 lb woman should eat approximately 2182 kcal/day to lose about 1 lb per week. This represents a 500 kcal deficit from the estimated TDEE of 2682 kcal. Use our TDEE calculator for a personalized number.

How many calories to maintain weight at 280 lbs?For a 280 lb woman, maintenance calories range from 2340 kcal (sedentary) to 3364 kcal (very active). The lightly active estimate of 2682 kcal/day applies to most people with 1–3 workouts per week.

Does calorie need change as weight changes?Yes — your TDEE decreases as you lose weight. Recalculate every 4–6 weeks during a diet. Losing 10 lbs can reduce your TDEE by ~70–100 kcal/day, slowly shrinking your deficit if you don't adjust.

Related Weight Guides

Sources

WHO CDC