An estimated 77 percent of Americans would like to lose weight, according to the 2010 International Food Information Council Foundation's Food & Health Survey. Your gender, age and activity level determines the number of calories you need to consume daily.
Minimum Calorie Intake
The University of Florida Extension Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences recommends that men should eat no fewer than 1,200 calories a day, and that women should consume at least 1,600 calories.
Starvation Mode
Skipping meals and eating too few calories is a bad way to lose weight. In fact, according to Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University's health services website, eating too few calories can decrease your metabolic rate. In other words, starving yourself can signal your body to conserve energy by expending fewer calories.
Recommended Caloric Intake
Healthy women who are moderately active should eat at least 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day, the American Heart Association suggests. Moderately active healthy men should consume 2,200 to 2,800 calories a day.
References
- University of Florida Extension Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences: Healthy Meal Plans
- Columbia University --- Go Ask Alice!: Will Skipping Breakfast and Lunch Lead to Weight Loss?
- American Heart Association: Know How Many Calories You Should Eat
- International Food Information Council Foundation: 2010 Food & Health Survey: Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Safety, Nutrition & Health
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