Not consuming enough calories can pose health risks. To ensure your health and safety, do not eat less than the recommended minimum amount of healthy calories per day, and check with your doctor before starting a low-calorie regimen.
Women
The Unites States Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that most women should ingest somewhere around 2,000 calories each day. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, adult women should not consume fewer than 1,200 calories per day, unless on a specific medically supervised program.
Men
U.S. dietary guidelines recommend between 2,400 and 3,000 calories daily for most adult men. Specific caloric recommendations depend on a man's activity level and age. Unless under direct medical supervision, men should not eat fewer than 1,500 calories a day.
Recommendations
Don't rely solely on calorie cutting for weight loss. To lose weight or prevent weight gain, government health agencies recommend combining sensible calorie reduction with increased physical activity. Cut back on sugar and fat; eat plenty of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, vegetables and fruit; and engage in some form of aerobic exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes.
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