How many calories do you need?

We all know how calories play an essential role in fuelling the body as well as in our weight loss journeys. In fact, all diet plans and weight management programmes start and end with the number of calories that you can take as opposed to how much you burn them.

While the human body has a constant demand for energy and uses the calories from food to keep working, the calories come from the carbohydrates, fats and proteins and work as essential nutrients stored within the body as fat. The stored calories help in physical activity and the more calories you burn, the more it helps in weight loss.

However, experts advise different measures to maintain the calorie count needed for a particular body type, age, gender or activity level. In most cases, over-consumption or under-consumption can either make you overweight or, in worst cases, make you feel sluggish.

Infants, children, and adolescents have different calorie consumption to balance total energy expenditure and support optimal growth and development. The energy intake decreases with age, resulting in decline in nutrient intake, particularly among older adults.

Shreya Mahajan, senior nutritionist with FITPASS, a platform for fitness and wellness solutions, feels balancing the caloric equation is the art of nourishing every stage of life.

“From youth to old age, the key lies in understanding the unique calorie needs of each age group, crafting a recipe for vitality and well-being. Caloric needs vary across age groups, and a comprehensive breakdown of these differences is important,” says Mahajan, recommending about 3,320 calories per day for boys till 18 years of age and 2,500 calories per day for girls.