To ensure proper physical and mental growth and development, 8-year-old boys need to follow a healthy and well-balanced diet. To determine the boy's daily calorie needs, carefully consider his current body proportion and activity levels.
Calorie Recommendations
For boys ages 4 to 8, the American Heart Association recommends approximately 1,400 to 1,800 calories per day. These calorie estimates are based on a sedentary lifestyle.
Activity Considerations
Eight-year-old boys that play sports or engage in regular physical activity require more daily calories to meet the body's energy needs. In fact, Baylor College of Medicine explains that a sedentary child's calorie needs may increase substantially --- by 1/3 --- if he engages in just one hour of physical activity per day.
Weight Considerations
A child's calorie needs also depend on his current height and weight. In most cases, a taller child requires slightly more calories than a shorter child. Similarly, an underweight child might require more daily calories than an overweight child.
Calorie Calculator
To ensure your 8-year-old boy is receiving the calories he needs for his current activity level, utilize the Baylor College of Medicine's online Children's Energy Needs Calculator. Simply enter your child's gender, age, height, weight and activity level into the online calculator to determine his specific daily calorie needs.
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