Nutrition
Daily protein from bodyweight
The standard form. Multiply bodyweight in kilograms by the rate you have chosen. The rate carries all the judgement; the multiplication is trivial.
The Formula
Protein (g) = bodyweight (kg) x grams per kilogram
The standard form. Multiply bodyweight in kilograms by the rate you have chosen. The rate carries all the judgement; the multiplication is trivial.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Bodyweight | kilograms | In kilograms. Every published rate is per kilogram, so pounds must be converted first or the result is 2.2046226218 times too large. |
| r | Protein rate | grams per kilogram | Grams per kilogram. Roughly 0.8 for a sedentary minimum, 1.2 to 1.6 for active adults, up to 2.0 in a deficit. |
| P | Daily protein | grams per day | The product. A 70 kg adult at 1.6 g/kg reaches 112 g per day. |
What Each Symbol Means
Wkilograms
Bodyweight
In kilograms. Every published rate is per kilogram, so pounds must be converted first or the result is 2.2046226218 times too large.
rgrams per kilogram
Protein rate
Grams per kilogram. Roughly 0.8 for a sedentary minimum, 1.2 to 1.6 for active adults, up to 2.0 in a deficit.
Pgrams per day
Daily protein
The product. A 70 kg adult at 1.6 g/kg reaches 112 g per day.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate protein intake page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Protein Intake, filed under Health. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.