How many calories a day

Some factors that influence the number of calories a person needs to remain healthy include age, weight, height, sex, levels of physical activity, and overall general health. For example, a physically active year-old male that is 6 feet in height requires considerably higher calorie intake than a 5-foot-tall, sedentary year-old woman. Though it differs depending on age and activity level, adult males generally require 2, calories per day to maintain weight while adult females need around 1,, according to the U.

S Department of Health. The body does not require many calories to simply survive. However, consuming too few calories results in the body functioning poorly, since it will only use calories for functions essential to survival, and ignore those necessary for general health and well-being.

Harvard Health Publications suggests women get at least 1, calories and men get at least 1, calories a day unless supervised by doctors. As such, it is highly recommended that a person attempting to lose weight monitors their body's caloric necessities and adjusts them as necessary to maintain its nutritional needs. The main sources of calories in a typical person's diet are carbohydrates, proteins, and fat, with alcohol also being a significant portion of calorie intake for many people though ideally this should be limited since alcohol contains many empty calories.

Some studies have shown that the calories displayed on nutrition labels and the calories actually consumed and retained can vary significantly. This hints at the complex nature of calories and nutrition and is why many conflicting points of view on the "best" methodology for losing weight exist. For example, how a person chews their food has been shown to affect weight loss to some degree; generally speaking, chewing food more increases the number of calories that the body burns during digestion.

People that chew more also tend to eat less, since the longer period of time necessary to chew their food allows more time to reach a state of satiety, which results in eating less. However, the effects of how food is chewed and digestion of different foods are not completely understood and it is possible that other factors exist, and thus this information should be taken with a grain of salt in moderation if weight loss is the goal.

Generally, foods that take more effort to chew — fruit, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, etc. It also results in the feeling of satiety for longer periods of time.

Furthermore, certain foods like coffee, tea, chilies, cinnamon, and ginger have been found to increase the rate of calories burned, due to the ingredients they contain. The "quality" of calories consumed is also important.

There are different classifications of foods in terms of calories. This includes high-calorie foods, low-calorie foods, and empty calories.

Consistent with their naming, high-calorie foods are foods that are calorically dense, meaning that there are a high number of calories relative to serving size, while low-calorie foods have fewer calories relative to serving size.

Foods such as fat, oils, fried foods, and sugary foods are examples of high-calorie foods. Being a high-calorie food does not inherently mean that the food is unhealthy however — avocados, quinoa, nuts, and whole grains are all high-calorie foods that are considered healthful in moderation.

Low-calorie foods include vegetables and certain fruits, among other things, while empty calories, such as those in added sugars and solid fats, are calories that contain few to no nutrients.

Studies have shown that there is a measurable difference between consuming calories of carrots compared to calories of popcorn. As previously mentioned, this in part can be attributed to differences in how the foods are consumed and processed.

Carrots require far more chewing and can result in more calories burned during digestion. Again, the mechanism for these differences is not fully defined, but simply note that for weight loss purposes, the general formula of calories in minus calories out determining weight gain or loss does hold, but that the number of calories on a nutrition label is not necessarily indicative of how many calories the body actually retains.

While there is no clear-cut or ideal amount of macronutrient proportions a person should consume to maintain a healthy diet or lose weight, eating a "healthy" diet replete with a variety of unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, and lean meats is correlated with being healthier, and is more likely to result in sustainable weight loss.

Many of these calories fall under the category of empty calories. While sodas are an obvious culprit, drinks such as juices and even milk have large amounts of sugar and should be consumed in moderation to avoid negating their nutritional benefits. Ideally, a person should drink water, tea, and coffee without adding sugar in order to reduce calories gained from drinks. Remember: All foods, including "healthful foods," should be consumed in moderation, and distinctions can often be misleading since even natural foods like fruits can have large amounts of sugar, and foods labeled as "health foods" such as low-calorie foods, reduced-fat foods, etc.

Many reduced-fat foods have large amounts of added sugar to compensate for taste lost through fat reduction. It is important to pay attention to, and consider the different components in a food product in order to determine whether said food should have a place within your diet.

US units metric units other units. Results unit:. Calories Kilojoules. BMR estimation formula:. To gain weight, you need to eat more calories than your body uses each day. For more information, see How can I gain weight safely? Page last reviewed: 24 October Next review due: 24 October Home Common health questions Food and diet Back to Food and diet. What should my daily intake of calories be? What are calories?

The amount of energy you need will depend on: your age — for example, growing children and teenagers may need more energy your lifestyle — for example, how active you are your size — your height and weight can affect how quickly you use energy Other factors can also affect how much energy you burn.

For example: some hormones chemicals produced by the body — such as thyroid hormones some medicines — such as glucocorticoids, a type of steroid used to treat inflammation being unwell Calories and kilocalories The term calorie is commonly used as shorthand for kilocalorie. Most women between the ages of 19—30 require 2,—2, calories per day to maintain their weight. Women between the ages of 31—59 have slightly lower energy needs. Generally, women in this age group should aim to consume 1,—2, calories per day to maintain their body weight.

Women over age 60 generally require even fewer calories and typically need to consume around 1,—2, calories per day to maintain their weight 7. Keep in mind that the exact number of calories that you need may fall on the high or low end of this range, depending on how active you are, along with your height, weight, and health status.

Additionally, note that these estimates do not apply to those who are pregnant or breastfeeding , as these individuals have significantly higher calorie needs. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans estimates that men between the ages of 19—30 should consume approximately 2,—3, calories per day to maintain their weight.

Energy needs decrease as you get older. In fact, men between the ages of 31—59 need about 2,—3, calories per day to maintain their weight 7. Meanwhile, men who are over 60 generally require 2,—2, calories per day to maintain their weight.

Men who are very active or have certain health conditions may require a higher number of calories. The number of calories that you need can also vary within this range based on your height and weight.

Energy needs for children and teens vary based on their sex and age. A 3-year-old child might need only 1, calories, but a teenager can require closer to 3, calories 7. Simply put, a calorie is a unit that measures energy. Calories are usually used to measure the energy content of foods and beverages. To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than your body burns each day. Conversely, to gain weight, you need to consume more calories than you expend 1.

Developing a healthy diet and lifestyle plan that will help you lose weight and keep it off in the long term requires much more than determining your current calorie needs and then eating fewer calories on a daily basis 9. Although decreasing the number of calories you consume can be effective for weight loss, cutting calories without considering which foods you eat is not a sustainable way to lose weight. For example, choosing more nutrient-dense foods — think whole grains, nuts, vegetables, and fruits — will benefit your health more than opting for nutrient-poor ones like soda, donuts, and candy.

When it comes to losing weight, protein is incredibly important. Studies show that increasing your intake of protein may help keep you full and curb your appetite 10 , Protein may also help fight cravings. According to some research, high protein snacks can help enhance feelings of fullness while also decreasing hunger and appetite Plus, in addition to promoting weight loss, some research suggests that maintaining a high protein eating pattern could help prevent or reduce weight regain and help maintain muscle mass 13 , Therefore, if you want to achieve long-lasting, sustainable weight loss, consider increasing your protein intake by adding foods like eggs, meat, poultry, tofu, nuts, seeds, or legumes to your diet.

Increasing your protein intake can help you stay satisfied and consume fewer calories. This may help you lose weight and keep it off. Another relatively easy change you can make is to limit your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, including sodas, fruit juices , chocolate milk, and other beverages with added sugar.

Additionally, studies suggest that consuming sugary drinks is associated with an increased risk of obesity 16 ,