Individuals vary in their responses to exercise --- everyone loses or gains weight or makes strength gains at differing rates. The daily amount of calories needed to power the human body also differs from person to person. Several factors are considered when determining what amount of daily calories is advised, but realize these are merely guidelines; extraneous factors like activity level play their parts, but generally speaking, there are norms.
Age
As the human body ages, the needed amount of calories decreases since it is assumed activity level decreases. Again, these are just guidelines. Growing toddlers, kids and teens need ample amounts of calories, with 1,200 to 1,800 recommended for kids under 8 years of age, according to the USDA. After 8, the need changes according to sex. Teenagers aged 13 to 19 are relatively close in range --- 2,200 to 2,400 calories daily for females and 2,600 to 3,000 for males. The broadest range comes between the ages of 30 to 50: 1,800 to 2,200 for females and 2,400 to 3,000 for males. Both sexes 50 and over need to take in around 1,600 to 2,000 daily.
Height
A person's height factors into the equation used to determine daily caloric needs when using a caloric calculator, a free application on many health and fitness websites. It is assumed the taller the person, the more muscle they have and use to power their bodies. Obviously, a petite female will naturally not require as many calories as an NBA athlete, but generally speaking the average adult 5 foot, 9 inch male who engages in at least moderate activity three times a week requires 2,200 calories. The average sized 5 foot, 5 inch female requires right around 2,000 calories.
Weight
Ideal bodyweight plays a large part in the calculation. Overweight individuals do not require as many calories since excess fat is basically stored calories that need to be expended, but according to national averages, an active, healthy male weighing 160 pounds requires around 2,400 calories; conversely, an active, healthy female requires around 2,000.
Sex
In addition to the above categories, a person's sex plays an important part in the daily requirements because males are more muscular than most females. The body needs more calories to power all the muscle to generate the needed power to hunt, a throwback to man's ancestry. That's why requirements for males are around 200 to 400 calories higher than those of females. This doesn't account for pregnant or lactating women who require about the same amount of calories as active males.
References
- "Fitness & Wellness"; W.K. Hoeger and Sharon Hoeger; 2008
- MyPyramid.gov: Average Daily Caloric Requirements
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