What is the BMR for a 43-year-old woman?

The estimated BMR (basal metabolic rate) for a 43-year-old woman of average height and weight is 1376 kcal/day, calculated using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.

Calorie Guide · Age 43

Calories for a 43-Year-Old Woman

Q: How many calories does a 43-year-old woman need?

A lightly active 43-year-old woman of average weight and height needs approximately 1892 kcal/day to maintain weight. Sedentary needs are around 1651 kcal, and very active around 2374 kcal.

Q: How many calories should a 43-year-old woman eat to lose weight?

A 43-year-old woman should eat approximately 1392 kcal/day to lose about 0.5 kg (1 lb) per week. This is a 500 kcal deficit from the estimated maintenance of 1892 kcal.

BMR, TDEE and exact calorie targets for weight loss, maintenance and muscle gain at age 43.

Calorie Needs at Age 43 — Average Woman

1376

BMR (at rest)

1651

Sedentary TDEE

1892
Lightly active TDEE

2133

Moderately active

1392

Weight loss target

1892

Maintenance

2192

Muscle gain target

How Many Calories Does a 43-Year-Old Woman Need?

Using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation with average US height and weight for a woman aged 43, the resting metabolic rate (BMR) is approximately 1376 kcal/day. With typical daily activity included, total calorie expenditure (TDEE) ranges from 1651 kcal (sedentary) to 2374 kcal (very active).

Age 43 note: Metabolism begins slowing ~1–2% per decade after 30. Maintaining muscle through resistance training and adequate protein (0.7–1 g/lb) offsets most of this decline.

Calorie Targets by Goal

Goal	Daily Calories	Expected Result
🔵 Aggressive weight loss	1142 kcal	~0.75 kg/week
📉 Weight loss	1392 kcal	~0.5 kg/week
✅ Maintenance	1892 kcal	Weight stable
💪 Lean bulk	2192 kcal	~0.25 kg/week
🏋️ Aggressive bulk	2392 kcal	~0.5 kg/week

Calorie Needs by Activity Level

Activity Level	Description	Daily Calories
Sedentary	Desk job, minimal movement	1651 kcal
Lightly active	1–3 workouts/week	1892 kcal
Moderately active	3–5 workouts/week	2133 kcal
Very active	Hard training 6–7 days/week	2374 kcal

How Metabolism Changes Around Age 43

Metabolic rate declines approximately 1–2% per decade after age 30, driven primarily by muscle loss (sarcopenia) rather than any inherent slowdown. At age 43, your BMR of 1376 kcal reflects your current muscle mass, height and hormonal status. The single most effective way to maintain or raise your BMR is resistance training — each kilogram of lean muscle burns roughly 13 kcal/day at rest.

Age	Estimated BMR (woman)	Change vs age 43
33	1426 kcal	+50 kcal
38	1401 kcal	+25 kcal
43	1376 kcal	—
48	1351 kcal	-25 kcal
53	1326 kcal	-50 kcal

Macronutrient Split at 1892 kcal

Macro	% of Calories	Grams/day	Calories
Protein	30%	142 g	568 kcal
Carbohydrates	40%	189 g	756 kcal
Fat	30%	63 g	567 kcal

At age 43, protein intake is especially important. Aim for at least 60–74 g/day to maintain muscle mass, whether you're in a deficit, at maintenance, or in a surplus.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories does a 43-year-old woman need per day?A lightly active 43-year-old woman of average size needs approximately 1892 kcal/day to maintain weight. This ranges from 1651 kcal (sedentary) to 2374 kcal (very active).

How many calories should a 43-year-old woman eat to lose weight?Aim for 1392 kcal/day — a 500 kcal deficit from the 1892 kcal maintenance estimate — to lose approximately 0.5 kg per week. Never go below 1200 kcal (women) or 1500 kcal (men) for extended periods.

Does age 43 affect how many calories you burn?Yes. Every decade after 30, BMR drops ~1–2% mainly due to muscle loss. At age 43 the estimated BMR is 1376 kcal — compare to 1441 kcal at age 30. Resistance training largely offsets this decline.

Related Age Guides

Sources

WHO CDC Mifflin-St Jeor (PubMed)