Consuming the correct number of calories for your body is a critical part of maintaining a healthy body weight. You can estimate your daily caloric needs by multiplying your body weight by a factor of 11 for men or by a factor of 10 for women. The result shows you an estimate of how many calories your body needs if you were completely sedentary; you must also factor in calories burned during exercise to get a more accurate depiction of your caloric needs. Research has shown that the average person consumes too many calories each day. Calories are consumed primarily from three main macronutrients: protein, fats and carbohydrates.
Calories
The average adult male consumes 2,507 calories per day, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted between 2007 and 2008. Adult women age 20 and up consume less at about 1,766 calories per day. The average caloric intake of boys between the ages of 2 and 19 ranges from 1,570 to 2,424 calories per day, respectively. Young girls of the same age range consume an average of 1,475 to 1,861 calories per day.
Protein
Protein contributes about four calories per gram to your calorie totals. The NHANES found that the average adult male consumes 97.7 g of protein per day, or the equivalent of nearly 391 calories per day. Adult females consume about 66.7 g of protein each day, or nearly 267 calories. Protein makes up nearly 16 percent of an adult male's daily caloric intake and about 15 percent of the average adult women's. Girls and boys between the ages of 2 and 19 consume between 52 and 90.7 g of protein per day, depending upon age and gender.
Fats
One g of fat supplies nine calories to your body. The average adult male consumes about 95 g of fat per day, or the equivalent of 855 calories. The average adult woman consumes about 67 g of total fat per day, which contributes 603 calories to her daily caloric intake. Boys between the ages of 2 and 19 consume an average of 57 to 91 g of fat per day, while girls of the same age range consume 55 to 69 g of fat in their diet.
Carbohydrates
Like protein, carbohydrates contribute four calories per gram to your total calorie intake. Carbohydrates make up the majority of the average person's diet. Adult males consume an average of 296 g of carbohydrates per day, and women of the same age range consume 220 g of carbs. This is equivalent to 1,184 calories and 880 calories, respectively. Boys between the ages of 2 and 19 consume an average of 215 to 313 g per day. Girls of the same ages consume 199 to 248 g of carbs each day on average.
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