Although some popular and fad weight loss diets recommend eating dangerously low amounts, there is a bottom beneath which you risk actually starving to death. How many calories you actually need varies based on several factors.
USDA Recommendations
The US Department of Agriculture is responsible for diet and nutrition advice for Americans. The USDA recommends adult males eat between 2,000 and 2,500 calories. Their recommendation for women is between 1,800 and 2,300 daily calories. These recommendations are the minimum for healthy living. You can survive with suboptimal nutrition at lower levels of intake.
Minimum Survivability
The minimum survivable calories varies between individuals, with 600 to 1,000 given as a standard range, according to the US Army Survival Handbook. The less active an individual is, the fewer calories he can eat and still survive.
Other Factors
A number of factors will affect the range of calories you need to survive. An incomplete list includes amount of muscle and body fat, personal metabolism, activity level, hydration, initial state of health and will to survive.
References
- "USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference"; USDA; 2009
- "US Army Survival Handbook, Revised Edition;" US Army; 2008
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