How Many Calories Should I Eat Per Day?
Daily calorie needs vary by person: women typically need 1,600-2,400 calories per day, men need 2,000-3,000 calories per day, depending on age, height, weight, and activity level. MyCalorieCounter calculates your personalized daily calorie goal using scientifically-backed formulas.
General Daily Calorie Guidelines
👩 Women
- Sedentary: 1,600-2,000 calories
- Moderately Active: 1,800-2,200 calories
- Very Active: 2,000-2,400 calories
👨 Men
- Sedentary: 2,000-2,600 calories
- Moderately Active: 2,200-2,800 calories
- Very Active: 2,400-3,000 calories
Factors That Affect Your Calorie Needs
🎂 Age
Calorie needs decrease with age due to slower metabolism and reduced muscle mass. Adults over 50 typically need 200-300 fewer calories than younger adults.
⚖️ Body Weight & Height
Larger bodies require more energy to function. Your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) increases with height and weight.
🏃♀️ Activity Level
Physical activity significantly impacts calorie needs:
- Sedentary: Desk job, minimal exercise
- Lightly Active: Light exercise 1-3 days/week
- Moderately Active: Moderate exercise 3-5 days/week
- Very Active: Hard exercise 6-7 days/week
- Extremely Active: Very hard exercise, physical job
🎯 Goals
- Weight Loss: Eat 500-750 calories below maintenance
- Weight Maintenance: Eat at your calculated maintenance calories
- Weight Gain: Eat 300-500 calories above maintenance
How MyCalorieCounter Calculates Your Perfect Calorie Goal
Step 1: Personal Information
Enter your age, gender, height, and current weight for accurate BMR calculation.
Step 2: Activity Assessment
Select your typical activity level from sedentary to very active.
Step 3: Goal Setting
Choose your target: lose weight, maintain, or gain weight with your preferred rate.
Step 4: Automatic Calculation
MyCalorieCounter uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and adjusts for your goals automatically.
Summary
Your daily calorie needs depend on multiple personal factors including age, gender, height, weight, activity level, and goals. Rather than guessing, use MyCalorieCounter's built-in calculator to determine your exact daily calorie target based on scientific formulas.
Get Your Personalized Calorie Goal
Download MyCalorieCounter and let us calculate your perfect daily calorie target in under 2 minutes.
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