How Many Calories Should We Eat a Day?

What exactly are calories?

Simply described, a calorie is a unit of energy measurement. Calories are commonly used to calculate the amount of energy in foods and beverages.

You must eat fewer calories than your body burns each day to lose weight. To acquire weight, you must consume more calories than you expend. Keep in mind that, while the “calories in, calories out” notion of weight loss may appear straightforward, many factors, including medical diagnoses, hormonal changes, heredity, and age, all contribute to weight loss or inability to lose weight.

Creating a balanced diet and lifestyle plan that will help you lose weight and keep it off for good requires much more than calculating your current calorie needs and eating fewer calories in response.

Is there a certain number of calories a person should consume daily?

The quantity of calories you should consume per day is determined by a variety of factors, including your age, gender, height, current weight, exercise level, and metabolic health, among others.

When attempting to lose weight, it is critical to generate a calorie deficit by either eating fewer calories than usual or exercising more. Some people mix the two, eating less while becoming more physically active.

Even if you are attempting to lose weight, it is still necessary to eat sufficient calories that can provide the body with the nutrition it requires.

The most vital aspect of any weight loss plan is its long-term viability. This is exactly the reason behind many experts proposing to make small calorie cuts to encourage sustainable weight loss.

Many fad diets, for example, propose limiting your calorie consumption to 1,000-1,200 calories per day, which is insufficient for most healthy adults. Reducing a person’s calorie intake too dramatically not only has various serious adverse effects but also raises your chance of nutritional deficiencies. It also causes metabolic alterations that make long-term weight maintenance challenging.

Here is a deeper look at how many calories you should consume, based on the USDA’s 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

Women

Age Calorie requirements daily

19-30 years 2,000-2,400 calories

31-59 years 1,800-2,200 calories

60+ years 1,600-2,000 calories

Women’s calorie requirements vary depending on their age, size, and amount of activity.

To maintain their weight, most women between the ages of 19 and 30 need 2,000-2,400 calories per day. Women aged 31 to 59 have lower energy requirements. To maintain their body weight, women in this age bracket should take 1,800-2,200 calories each day.

Women over the age of 60 require fewer calories and typically require 1,600-2,000 calories per day to maintain their weight. Remember that the precise number of calories you require may fall on the high or low end of this range — or exceed it — depending on how active you are, as well as your height, weight, and health status.

Furthermore, these figures do not apply to those who are pregnant or lactating, as they will require more calories every day.

Men

Age Calorie requirements

19-30 years 2,400 and 3,000 calories

31-59 years 2,200-3,000 calories

60+ years 2,000 to 2,600 calories

Calorie requirements for males, like those for women, might vary depending on a variety of factors.

According to the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, males aged 19-30 should consume 2,400-3,000 calories per day to maintain their weight.

As you get older, your energy requirements decrease. Males between the ages of 31 and 59 require 2,200-3,000 calories per day to maintain their weight, but men over 60 require 2,000-2,600 calories.

Men who are physically active or have specific medical issues may need more calories. The quantity you require within these ranges is also determined by your height and weight.

Children

Age Calorie requirements per day

Male: 2-4 years 1,000-1,600 calories

Female: 2-4 years 1,000-1,400 calories

Male: 5-8 years 1,200-2,000 calories

Female: 5-8 years 1200-1,800 calories

Male: 9-13 years 1,600-2,600 calories

Female: 9-13 years 1,400-2,200 calories

Male: 14-18 years 2,000-3,200 calories

Female: 14-18 years 1,800-2,400 calories

Children’s calorie requirements vary depending on their age, size, and activity level.

Children and teenagers have different energy requirements depending on their gender and age. A 3-year-old toddler may only require 1,200 calories, whereas a teenager may require closer to 3,000 calories.

Keep in mind, however, that for growing children and teenagers, calorie counting is usually unnecessary. Restricting a child’s calorie intake may increase their risk of nutritional deficiencies, impede their growth, and foster an unhealthy relationship with food or an eating disorder.

Instead of tracking calories, encourage kids and teens to eat more nutrient-dense foods, cook more meals and snacks at home, and engage in regular physical activity. The number of calories your body requires depends on your age, gender, activity level, and body size.

Burning your calories:

The human body needs energy to function.

Around 20% of the energy we consume is required for brain metabolism. Most of the rest is spent on basal metabolism, which is the energy we use when we are resting for tasks such as blood circulation, digestion, and breathing. We require much more energy to keep a constant body temperature in a chilly environment because our metabolism accelerates to generate more heat. We require less energy in a warm climate.

Mechanical energy is also required by our skeletal muscles in order to keep a good posture and move around. The metabolic process through which cells generate energy by reacting oxygen with glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy is known as cellular respiration.

The efficiency with which energy from respiration is converted into physical—or mechanical—power is determined by the type of food consumed, the type of physical energy consumed, and whether muscles are used aerobically or anaerobically.

In other words, we require calories to power physical activities like breathing and thinking, as well as to maintain our posture and move around.

Here are a few tips you can follow:

Here are some pointers to help you burn more calories and lose weight faster. Calorie counting involves not just what we consume, but also how much we burn.

1. Eat breakfast: A high-protein, high-fat meal can keep you fuller for longer and help you avoid snacking during the day.
2. Eat regular meals: This will help you burn calories more effectively and will keep you from eating mindlessly.
3. Recall your “five-a-day”: Fruits and vegetables can be a delightful snack as well to bulk up your meals. They include a lot of minerals and fiber while being low in calories and fat.
4. Consume slow-burning calories: Because high-fiber carbohydrates, such as lentils, and healthy fats, such as avocado, take longer to release energy, you will feel fuller for longer.
5. Exercise now: This can help you burn off additional calories while also making you feel wonderful. A regular brisk stroll is simple for most individuals and inexpensive. Use a pedometer to put yourself to the test. There are activities that can help persons who use wheelchairs improve their heart health and strength.
6. Drink water more: It is a calorie-free beverage that can fill you up. Avoid alcoholic beverages and sodas, which can easily supply far too many calories. If you crave sugary drinks, opt for unsweetened fruit juices or, better yet, invest in a juicer.
7. Consume more fiber: Fiber, which is found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can help you feel full while also promoting healthy digestion.
8. Read the label: Some products include hidden fats or sugars. “Ten percent less fat” may not mean less fat, and it does not necessarily imply that you can eat more of it or that it is truly healthier. If you are tracking calories, the label will assist you in staying on track.
9. Use smaller plates: According to research, portion sizes have increased over the previous three decades, which may contribute to obesity. Using a smaller dish encourages fewer servings. Eat carefully and rest between courses or extra servings, as it can take your body 20 to 30 minutes to realize it is full.
10. Make a shopping list: Plan a week’s worth of healthy meals and snacks, write down the products you will need, and stick to it when you go grocery shopping.
11. A little bit of everything: Forbidding foods might lead to cravings and bingeing. Allow yourself to indulge in a favorite treat on occasion but in moderation.
12. Get enough sleep: Sleep deprivation has been linked to weight growth since it impairs metabolism.
13. Avoid eating two hours before going to bed: Eating within two hours before going to bed might disrupt sleep quality and encourage weight gain.