Your gender and activity level affect the number of calories you should eat each day to maintain your present weight. Depending on where calories come from, they have different effects on the body.
Active Lifestyle
An active lifestyle includes physical activity equal to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with everyday life. Active females 14 to 18 years old need 2,400 calories per day; women 19 to 30, 2,400 calories; women 31 to 50, 2,400 calories; and women 51+, 2,000 to 2,200 calories. Active males 14 to 18 years old need 2,800 to 3,200 calories; men 19 to 30, 3,000 calories; men 31 to 50, 2,800 to 3,000 calories; 51+ men, 2,400 to 2,800 calories.
Moderately Active
Moderately active means physical activity equal to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to light physical activity associated with day-to-day life. Females 14 to 18 years old need 2,000 calories per day; 19- to 30-year-old women need 2,000 to 2,200 calories; 31 to 50, 2,000 calories; and women 51+, 1,800 calories. Males ages 14 to 18 need 2,400 to 2,800 calories; men 19 to 30, 2,600 to 2,800 calories; men 31 to 50, 2,400 to 2,600 calories; and men 51+, 2,200 to 2,400 calories.
Sedentary
Sedentary means a lifestyle including only the light physical activity associated with typical daily life. Sedentary females ages 14 to 18 require 1,800 calories; women 19 to 30, 2,000 calories; women 31 to 50, 1,800 calories; and women 51+, 1,600 calories. Males 14 to 18 years old require 2,200 calories; men 19 to 30, 2,400 calories; men 31 to 50, 2,200 calories; and men 51+, 2,000 calories.
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