The teenage years are a time of rapid growth and development for boys and girls. During this time, boys put on muscle mass and girls put on more fat. Men, in general, require more calories than women because they are larger and more muscular. While energy requirements vary by individual, teenage boys typically require several thousand calories daily.
Estimated Energy Requirement
The estimated energy requirement (EER) for an individual is based on calculations that account for a person's total energy expenditure, age, gender, height, weight and level of physical activity. There are general guidelines and recommendations for specific age groups.
Early Adolescence
Adolescence is the period of life between about 11 and 21 years of age. The timing of puberty and rates of growth vary greatly. During puberty, beginning at about age 12, males often put on twice as much muscle as females, and females gain proportionally more fat. Boys aged 9 to 13 years, of average height and weight, or about 57 inches tall and 79 lbs., require 2,279 calories daily.
Mid-Teens
Calorie needs jump for both males and females ages 14 to 18 years, when growth spurts occur. Males in this age group, approximately 68 inches tall and 134 lbs., require 3,152 calories daily. These are general guidelines. To be more specific, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture My Pyramid Plan, a 15-year-old male, 68 inches tall and 134 lbs. who participates in moderate physical activity 30 to 60 minutes every day needs about 2,800 calories daily for optimum health.
Late Teens
Although the EER states that a male, aged 18 years, still requires an average of 3,152 calories daily, as he falls into the 14- to 18-year-old age group, he likely requires more calories as he will be taller, bigger and weigh more than a 14 year old male. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture My Pyramid Plan, an 18-year-old male, 71 inches tall and 170 lbs., who participates in moderate physical activity 30 to 60 minutes every day needs about 3,200 calories daily for optimum health.
Considerations
While the EER recommendations come close to meeting the needs of teenage boys on average, caloric requirements depend on many factors other than rate of growth. Those involved in sports and athletics may require significantly more calories. Weight is an objective and performance a subjective measurement of energy adequacy. For example, weight loss may be indicative of inadequate calories.
References
- Preventing Chronic Disease: An Easy Approach to Calculating Estimated Energy Requirements
- Dietary Reference Intake Tables for Individuals
- Institute of Medicine (IOM); Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients); 2005
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid Plan: 15 year old male
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid Plan: 18 year old male
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