Your body needs calories to provide energy and to assure proper function throughout the day. Consuming too few calories will slow your metabolism and send signals to your body to conserve calories instead of burning them, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
Adults
Women should consume at least 1,200 calories per day, and men 1,800 calories, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
Adolescents and Teenagers
Girls ages 14 to 18 years old should consume about 1,800 to 2,400 calories per day, depending on activity level, according to MayoClinic.com. Boys ages 14 to 18 years old should consume about 2,200 to 3,200 calories per day.
Kids
The recommended amount of calories for most school-aged children is 1,600 to 2,500 calories per day, according to the KidsHealth website. Children who are more physically active will need more calories per day compared to kids who are not.
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