The average adult needs approximately 2,000 calories per day. Therefore, depending on your weight goals and activity level, the appropriate number of calories you should consume differs. Weight maintenance occurs when both numbers are equal. When the number of calories you burn is greater than the number you consume, a calorie deficit occurs, potentially resulting in weight loss.Ĭonversely, you may gain weight when you consume more calories than you burn. However, calorie needs vary drastically, with some people requiring more or fewer than 2,000 calories per day.Īdditionally, individuals who are in periods of growth, such as pregnant women and teenagers, often need more than the standard 2,000 calories per day. Why calorie needs differĬalories supply your body with the energy it needs to sustain life ( 4).īecause everyone’s body and lifestyle is different, people have different calorie needs.ĭepending on activity level, it’s estimated that adult women require 1,600–2,400 calories per day, compared with 2,000–3,000 calories for adult men ( 1). Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs” ( 3).ĭue to these daily values, consumers can compare, for example, amounts of sodium and saturated fat in a given food to the maximum daily recommended levels. In fact, all nutrition labels contain the phrase: “Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. This number is based on the estimated nutritional needs of most adults and used for meal-planning purposes according to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines ( 1).Īdditionally, it’s used as a benchmark to create recommendations on nutrition labels ( 2). Though nutritional requirements vary by individual, 2,000 calories are often considered standard. Why 2,000 calories are often considered standard

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