Citations
Where these numbers come from
Calorie and nutrient targets in Kexo are population estimates for healthy adults. They are not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. They are not intended for children, pregnancy or lactation, eating disorders, or medical nutrition therapy. Talk to a clinician before changing how you eat.
Last updated August 20, 2026
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1 · Resting calories
Mifflin–St Jeor (1990)
Estimates calories the body burns at rest from age, sex, height, and weight. Kexo uses this as the starting point for daily calorie targets.
PubMed: Mifflin et al., Am J Clin Nutr -
2 · Daily calorie need
FAO / WHO / UNU Human energy requirements (2004)
Maintenance calories = resting calories × physical activity level. Kexo’s activity multipliers sit in the sedentary-to-light range described there.
FAO: Human energy requirements -
3 · Protein, carbs, and fat
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025
For adults: protein 10–35%, carbohydrate 45–65%, fat 20–35% of calories. Kexo uses 30 / 45 / 25, which sits inside those ranges.
USDA / HHS: Dietary Guidelines (PDF) -
4 · The same ranges
National Academies (IOM) Dietary Reference Intakes (2005)
The original Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges that the Dietary Guidelines still use.
National Academies: DRI for energy and macronutrients -
5 · Percents to grams
FAO energy conversion factors
Protein and carbohydrate ≈ 4 kcal per gram; fat ≈ 9 kcal per gram. Kexo converts the percentage splits above into daily grams this way.
FAO: Food energy — methods of analysis and conversion factors -
6 · Fiber
FDA Daily Value, 28 g
28 g is the Daily Value on a 2,000 calorie Nutrition Facts label. Kexo uses that as a fixed daily fiber target.
FDA: Daily Value on the Nutrition Facts label -
7 · Calorie floor
NIDDK
Intake below about 1,200 kcal a day is not recommended without a clinician. Kexo does not set a rest-day target below 1,200 kcal.
NIDDK: Game Plan for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
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