The 2010 Food & Health Survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation found that few Americans can accurately account for how many calories they should consume daily. And few people keep track of their calorie intake.
Average Calorie Intake
In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that on average, males consume 2,475 calories a day, and females consume 1,833.
Recommended Calorie Intake
The amount of calories a person should consume daily is based on gender, age and activity level. Healthy women who are inactive should eat between 1,600 to 2,000 calories daily. Active females should consume between 2,000 to 2,400. Healthy, inactive males should consume 2,000 to 2,400 calories and active males should take in from 2,400 to 3,000.
Conclusion
According to the American Heart Association, you should burn as many calories through exercise and basic metabolic function as you consume. Eating more calories than you burn will lead to becoming overweight or obese, which can cause a variety of health problems including heart disease and diabetes.
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