Your body weight can shift gradually or suddenly, with age, dietary changes or with medical issues. Weight fluctuations may occur due to an improper caloric balance in diet and exercise. To determine whether you are meeting your caloric needs, begin by simply looking in the mirror. Do you look overweight or underweight? Do your clothes fit properly? Excess abdominal fat may indicate an unhealthy weight problem. Your doctor can help you assess your caloric needs based on your current weight versus your ideal weight.
Body Mass Index
Your weight should be in proportion to your height. To evaluate your caloric needs, you'll need to know whether your weight is appropriate. The National Institutes of Health website MedlinePlus suggests using the body mass index, or BMI, scale for this purpose. To estimate your BMI, multiply your body weight by 703. Divide the resulting number by your height in inches once, and then again. Plot where your BMI falls, with 18.5 to 25 representing the healthy weight range. If your BMI is greater or less than those numbers, your caloric needs are not being fulfilled.
Average Caloric Needs
Your body breaks down food for the energy it needs to complete processes such as thought, digestion, blood circulation and movement. This energy is measured in calories. When you consume the same number of calories that you use through activity, your body holds a stable weight. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this number most commonly falls between 1,600 and 3,000 calories per day. If you are gaining weight from your usual amount of calories, you are either over-consuming calories or under-performing exercise. If you are losing weight, the opposite is true.
Additional Factors
Exceptions to the caloric balance formula occur when underlying medical issues affect your ability to maintain healthy weight. If you are unable to correct a weight problem by shifting your caloric intake, consult your doctor for advice. If you are healthy, you may only need a greater focus on daily exercise. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily, in order to expend excess calories and strengthen your cardiovascular system. Additional factors that can change your caloric needs are pregnancy and aging.
Significance
Controlling your weight by meeting -- but not exceeding -- your caloric needs can preserve your health and help you live longer. The Office of the Surgeon General reports that becoming overweight by as little as 11 lbs. doubles your risk for Type 2 diabetes, which may have life-threatening complications. Overweight also increases your chances of experiencing potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Assessing Your Weight; February 2011
- MedlinePlus; National Institutes of Health; Body Mass Index; May 2011
- USDA; Dietary Guidelines for Americans; December 2010
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans; 2008
- Office of the Surgeon General; Overweight Consequences; January 2007
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