How many calories should a teenager have per day?

Answer 1

• She should be eating as much as she can burn off depending on her height and health. If she plays an intensive sport, she should increase the calorie intake as well.

• It really depends on your weight, height and activity level, but approximately you should eat 1500 to 1800 calories per day to maintain your metabolism rate.

• It also depends on whether she needs to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain weight. To view specific examples, see the page link, further down this page, listed under Related Questions.

Answer 2

I'm assuming that you are far from falling into the reigns of an eating disorder or distorted self-image perception, and that you are instead focused on making sure you maintain your weight, or perhaps shed some (if necessary, that is, your BMI, Body Mass Index, is 25+) if necesssary. Whatever steps to be taken should be done in a healthy manner, otherwise your body will take a toll: physically, mentally, psychologically but more importantly for your future state of health and wellness: internally. So you'd like to know the normal amount of calories for a thirteen to fifteen year old. There really is no definitive answer to this: calories are simply units of energy, and, to know the general amount of calories you need to consume means you must know how much energy you are expending. Are you active? Participate in sports? If so, you'd need to increase your caloric intake... however, if you're sedentary, (you don't participate in exercise), obviously your caloric intake levels will be vastly contrasting with a more physically rigorous person. What gives you a general idea of the calories you need is an instrument called a BMR Calculator. If you go to any search engine type in "BMR Calculator" or "Basal Metabolic Rate" Calculator, and the search will return many inquiries.. click on any one and once you've reached the page enter the information (your height, gender and for some activity level) the calculator inquiries. This will then result in an estimation of your "normal" calorie needs. So there you go. Pretty simple. But, hey, the best indicator of your normal calorie needs isn't a calculator, from a physician, nutritionist or is the result of research.. it's your body. When your body needs calories you will feel hungry! And a state of hunger doesn't require emptiness, it's your stomach growling. That's the most simple and effective communication into getting the amount of calories you truly need. So listen to your stomach, and when you are satisfied (not in a state of pain, your stomach is no longer growling), you stop. That's the best way.

To view examples of the calories per day, see the Related Question.

Answer 3

Here are examples with guidelines for weight loss or weight maintenance. It depends on your body weight, body composition, level of activity, and health status. It also depends on whether you want to:

1. lose weight
2. maintain weight
3. gain weight.

If in doubt, consult with your physician. As we do not know your health status, general guidelines are given.

CALORIE COUNTS to maintain weight (then we move on to weight loss):

Teenage females to maintain weight (for weight loss suggestions see further down the page.)

• 1700-1800 if sedentary/not active
• 2000-2200 if moderately active
• 2300-2600 if active
• 2800-3000 if very active.

Teenage males to maintain weight (for weight loss suggestions see further down the page.)

• 2100-2500 if sedentary/not active
• 2500-2900 if moderately active
• 2800-3400 if active
• 3300-4000 if very active.

For the free fruit and vegetable calorie charts that are used as daily guides for either weight loss or weight maintenance, see the page links, further down this page, listed under Sources and Related Links. If you eat more calories than you burn, you may gain weight. Teenagers (sometimes) need more calories than adults of the same size if still growing or very active.

In addition, where your calories come from is crucial.For either good health, weight loss, or weight maintenance, avoid getting your calories from refined processed carbohydrates.Strictly limit refined processed carbohydrates (apart from the occasional treat). Refined processed carbohydrates are a major cause of weight gain, excess stomach fat, insulin resistance, obesity, Heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 Diabetes, and many diet related diseases. If you are unsure what these foods are, you will find a list of high calorie refined processed carbohydrates further down this page, listed under Sources and Related Links.

FOR WEIGHT LOSS

If you need to lose weight subtract 300, and no more than 500 calories initially, and engage in regular cardio exercise or cardio activities. If you record how many calories you consume per day it is easier to determine how many calories you actually need.

In addition, cut out refined processed carbohydrates (apart from the occasional treat). As stated earlier in this answer, refined processed carbohydrates are high calorie foods and a major cause of weight gain, excess stomach fat, obesity, and many other diet related diseases. You will find a list of refined processed carbohydrates further down this page, listed under Sources and Related Links.

Plus, use the free vegetable and fruit calorie charts as your daily guides (see Sources and Related Links). In addition, regular cardio exercise, such as cardio walking, is excellent for health or fat loss. Cardio exercise can be such things as brisk walking, jogging, running, cross country skiing, etc.

So, for the free charts and lists to get you started --

1. List of Refined Processed Carbohydrates (high calorie unhealthy foods to avoid or limit for either good health, weight maintenance, or weight loss)
2. Calories in Fruit Chart (for either weight maintenance or weight loss)
3. Calories in Vegetables Chart (for either weight maintenance or weight loss) --

simply use the live links listed below in the "Sources and Related Links" section.