Calorie counting is at the heart of many weight loss programs, and even some simple diets for maintaining good health. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for providing guidelines to help Americans make the right choices about eating.
Recommendations for Men
According to the FDA, the average American male should take in between 2,000 and 2,500 calories per day. They recommend that no more than 30 percent of these calories come from fats and oils.
Recommendations for Women
FDA recommended calorie intake for women is from 1,800 to 2,300 calories per day. This is because women, on average, are smaller than men and need fewer calories to thrive. Calorie counts vary depending on height and weight. The same fat recommendation apply.
Accuracy
The Harvard School of Public Health contests FDA health recommendations. Although they don't question the recommended amount of calories, they do object to the fact that the fat-content regulations don't reflect the fact that many fats are healthy.
References
- "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy"; Dr. Walter Willett, et al; 2006
- "National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference," US Department of Agriculture; 2009
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