Most kids require fewer calories than adults in order to stay healthy, but every child has individual caloric needs. Inactive children burn fewer calories than active children and, therefore, require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight. As children approach adulthood, their required calories continue to increase, and teenagers actually require more calories than adults over the age of 30.
Age
Kids need more calories as they grow older. Dr. Mary L. Gavin with KidsHealth explains that everyone burns calories at a different rate, but most fall within a general range. Children between the ages of 2 and 3 typically need between 1,000 and 1,400 calories. As they get older, most kids need somewhere between 1,600 and 2,500 calories per day. This range continues to climb as kids reach puberty.
Gender
During most stages of life, girls need fewer calories on average than boys. Children age 3 and under need the same amount regardless of gender, but after that age, most boys need approximately 200 calories more than most girls. Once they reach puberty, this difference expands even more. Teenage boys need anywhere from 200 to 800 more calories than most teenage girls, depending on their activity level.
Sedentary Lifestyle
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines sedentary as "a lifestyle that includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life." Sedentary children between the ages of 2 and 3 need only about 1,000 calories per day. Sedentary girls between ages 4 and 8 need roughly 1,200 calories a day, while sedentary boys need 1,400 calories a day at that age. The average caloric need increases to 1,600 calories for sedentary girls ages 9 to 13 and 1,800 calories for sedentary boys ages 9 to13. After puberty, sedentary girls need 1,800 calories per day while sedentary boys need 2,200 calories.
Moderately Active Lifestyle
Moderately active children have enough physical activity in their days to equal walking 1.5 to 3 miles at a speed of 3 to 4 miles per hour. A moderately active child 2 to 3 years old needs 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day. The NHLBI states that moderately active boys ages 4 to 8 need 1,400 to 1,600 calories, while their female counterparts need 1,400 to 1,600 calories. Moderately active boys need 1,800 to 2,200 calories between ages 9 and 13 and 2,400 to 2,800 calories between ages 14 and 18. Moderately active girls only need 1,600 to 2,000 calories between ages 9 and 13 and about 2,000 calories between ages 14 and 18.
Active Lifestyle
The NHLBI explains that active lifestyles include enough physical activity each day to equal walking over 3 miles at 3 to 4 miles per hour. Active 2 to 3 year old children need 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day. At 4 to 8 years old, active girls need 1,400 to 1,800 calories and active boys need 1,600 to 2,000. Active girls ages 9 to 13 need 1,800 to 2,000 calories, while boys need 2,000 to 2,600 calories. After puberty, active girls need 2,400 calories, but active boys need 2,800 to 3,200 calories.
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Balance Food and Activity
- United States Department of Agriculture: Pyramid Servings
- Virginia Cooperative Extension; Healthy Eating for Children 2 through 5 Years Old; Elena Serrano, et al.; May 2009
- KidsHealth; Learning about Calories; Mary L. Gavin; August 2010
- TeensHealth; Figuring Out Fat and Calories; Mary L. Gavin; May 2009
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