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Kilojoule Deficit Calculator

A kilojoule deficit is the difference between what you eat and what your body needs. This calculator shows your deficit and translates it into predicted weekly weight loss.

1

Enter your details

Gender
years
kg
cm
kJ

Your Energy Balance

Example

Example figures, not your own. Worked for a moderately active 40 year old woman of 80 kg and 168 cm eating 7,500 kJ a day. Enter your own details and press Calculate.

Daily Deficit

2,452kJ/day

You are in a calorie deficit

Predicted Weekly Weight Loss

0.53kg/week

Maintenance Level

9,952kJ/day

How It Works

Your deficit = maintenance kJ - daily intake kJ. One kilogram of body fat stores approximately 32,200 kJ. Your weekly deficit divided by 32,200 gives the predicted weekly weight loss in kg.

How to use it

  1. 1Enter your gender, age, weight, height, and activity level to calculate maintenance kJ
  2. 2Enter your current daily kJ intake (or target)
  3. 3Click "Calculate" to see your deficit and predicted weekly weight loss

Quick Reference

Daily Deficit (kJ)Weekly Loss (kg)Monthly Loss (kg)
1,1500.25~1.0
2,3000.50~2.0
3,4500.75~3.0
4,6001.00~4.0

Assumes consistent deficit. Actual results vary with metabolic adaptation.

How This Is Calculated

Deficit (kJ) = maintenance kJ − daily intake kJ Weekly loss (kg) = (deficit × 7) ÷ 32,217
maintenance kJ
= your TDEE (BMR × activity multiplier)
daily intake kJ
= the kilojoules you eat per day
32,217
= kJ stored in 1 kg of body fat

A safe deficit is 2,000–3,000 kJ (500–750 kcal) per day, resulting in weight loss of 0.5–0.75 kg per week. Larger deficits can lead to muscle loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a safe kilojoule deficit?
A safe deficit is 2,000-3,000 kJ (500-750 kcal) per day, resulting in weight loss of 0.5-0.75 kg per week. Larger deficits can lead to muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic adaptation.
How do I know my current kJ intake?
Track everything you eat and drink for a week using a food diary or tracking app. Read Australian food labels (which show kJ) and weigh portions for accuracy. Our Food Diary tool can help.
Why am I not losing weight in a deficit?
Common reasons include: underestimating food intake, overestimating exercise burn, water retention (especially early on), metabolic adaptation from prolonged dieting, or medical conditions. If stuck, recalculate your maintenance kJ and track intake more carefully.

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