In short, caloric intake is the number of calories consumed each day. Total caloric intake is the number of calories taken in from the all food beverages consumed, regardless of the composition of the diet or where those calories come from. Caloric intake is a valuable measurement for determining whether daily calories should be increased, decreased or remain the same to maintain a healthy weight or prevent the development of chronic diseases.
History
The average caloric intake of entire populations of people has been used by researchers as a basis for comparison in determining the effects of total caloric intake on weight and health. For instance, a prospective study of 750,000 men and women carried on by the American Cancer Society from 1959 to 1972, looked at the relationship between weight and death from cancer and other diseases. The researchers found that the risk of dying from cancer was much higher in both men and women who were 40 percent or more overweight. Given the relationship between high caloric intake and obesity, the researcher were able to determine that there may be an association between caloric intake and risk of death from cancer.
Function
In the context of public health, caloric intake from specific types of foods and food behaviors can be used to determine if those foods and behaviors play a role in the development of obesity and chronic diseases. A University of North Carolina study, published in the November 2007 issue of the journal "Obesity" found that caloric intake from beverages alone had doubled in the United States over the course of 37 years and this increased intake is likely associated with increased obesity in this country. A study published in the April 2006 issue of the "Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine" found that the more television children watch, the higher their caloric intake.
Significance
On an individual level, a measure of caloric intake provides a baseline for determining a diet program that can help someone lose weight, gain weight or maintain weight, depending on the need. For weight maintenance, caloric intake must equal caloric output, or the number of calories used for physical activity. Weight gain results when caloric intake is higher than caloric output, and weight loss occurs when caloric intake is less than caloric output.
Identification
Average caloric intake can be measured by use of a food diary, wherein an individual keeps a written daily record of all food and drink consumed over the course of several days or weeks. The records can be analyzed for total caloric intake, and specific eating habits and patterns can be identified. This information can be used to determine whether caloric intake should be increased, decreased or remain the same and if certain types of foods are contributing more to caloric intake than others.
Considerations
To maintain a healthy weight, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends average caloric intakes based on a person's age, gender and activity level. For instance, moderately active males ages 21 to 25 need approximately 2,800 calories each day, while a moderately active female in the same age group needs only 2,200 calories per day. The recommended caloric intake decreases with age. Moderately active men in the 51 to 65 year old age group need about 2,400 calories each day while moderately active women in that age group need only about 1,800 calories to maintain a healthy weight.
References
- University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Health System: Reducing Caloric Intake
- The National Academies Press: Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer (1982): Total Caloric Intake
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Doubled Calorie Intake from Beverages Likely Contributes to Adult Obesity
- Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine; When Children Eat What They Watch
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid Food Intake Pattern Calorie Levels
Member Comments