To think that women don't actually need 2000kcal a day

So you honestly believe that, regardless of height and activity level, no woman could possibly burn 2000 calories a day? That's insane.

Similar to me. I’m shorter but do comparable exercise.

However, I also have low blood pressure and a very low resting heart rate. Essentially my metabolism is really slow, which means I am likely to live longer and I feel fuller for longer but also means I need fewer calories. It can be an unexpected side effect of fitness in some people.

Like all things health related, these things are guidelines based on averages and we all have to do understand our bodies and personalise a little.

I’m pretty much an armchair expert at this shiz, seeing as I’ve hovered on the cusp of anorexia for 40 years. Calorie intake/expenditure is completely individual. The way our bodies process food and calories is different for everyone. I’m extremely active, I don’t own a car and walk long distances every day. I never stop moving! I probably eat around 1000 calories on a good day. If I eat more than that, I gain weight. It’s always been like this for me. I have a friend who eats “normally” as in proper meals at various times of the day.. she isn’t that active really, but she’s very thin. She says she never gains weight whereas I eat 100 calories more than my usual 1000 and I do.
It depends on your body, how it responds to energy intake, how it burns calories etc.

Most public health advice is based on the average person and even then it’s a really rough guide as people have different metabolisms and different foods will be absorbed in different ways. You might not need 2000 based on your height, metabolism, diet and activity levels but other women will need far more. 2000 calories of a nutrient rich diet high in fruit and vegetables will probably have a different effect to 2000 calories of ultra processed foods. That doesn’t fit neatly into the back of a food packet though.

I think as you get older you need to eat less calories. I think if you have never dieted and eat well - you will maintain a health metabolism.

No idea i don't think all this diet and planning or keeping up with calories is healthy to start with

Eh, don't forget to mention that we've lost sight of what a normal portion size is!! 😉

This is so true😆

I'm tall and even at 55 I can get away with 1900 Cal's. I'm not particularly active either, rarely make my 10k steps. I am however a bit hyper and twitchy, one of those annoying people who is always sat jiggling a foot and a bit anxious. Watched a Michael Mosely (I think?) programme where he talked about those types burning more energy.

Try this
https://tdeecalculator.net/

I think a lot of women have ruined their metabolisms with low calorie diets, crash diets etc over the years and now gain weight easily. I also think there's other factors at play such as insulin resistance etc

I know for me I was one of those I can't lose weight unless I eat 1200 cal a day people but long term investment in my health, seeing a nutritionist, learning about insulin resistance, eliminating inflammatory foods for periods of time (e.g just coming to the end of 12 weeks without gluten) means I no longer calorie count and am still losing weight

This is really interesting. I don't count calories properly but an estimated calorie intake is probably 1500 - 1800 with wine and chocolate at the weekend.
I have sedentary teens though who would be mortified if I tried to run around after them

I've never needed anywhere near as much as that. The number is misleading and massively problematic. It helps no one at all.

I'm 5'6, run five miles five times a week, spin five times a week and do Pilates three times a week, plus an active job three days a week and a dog.

I have a BMI of 21 and can only eat 1600 calories a day. If I ate 2000 calories a day I would be the size of a bus. I'm post menopause though, but even pre meno I would have struggled. If I want to lose weight I have to cut right down to around the 1200 calorie mark just to get it shifted.

But people are different, there will be some whose metabolism is going like a furnace and others who struggle to lose weight on 1000 calories a day.

I do agree that 2000 is a fairly high number though.

I'm 5 11 and active. Until I hit menopause, I needed around 2250 calories. Now, I need about 1800. Everyone is different and the calories you require to lose weight are less than those required to maintain a healthy weight.

I think it depends your activity level and height. I think most people underestimate how may calories they consume.

It’s probably about right for me. But, I am 5’9, quite a bit taller than the average woman. I am way more sedentary now as I work nearly full time in a desk job. Before being so sedentary it was more like 2,500. I’m 33 so metabolism slowing now too. I think that definitely plays a part.

You don't know how many calories "women need". You're one person. You can't speak for others.

Hard disagree. I eat way over that amount and I’m a size 8 but running around after 2 pre schoolers. Also have fast metabolism. It’s different strokes for different folks

A WHOLE lettuce leaf? I just have to walk past it and sniff it and I am STUFFED

I think you're probably right and not that many people actually need 2000 calories everyday, maybe its a limit not a target. Who knows.

It depends on height, weight and lifestyle. I'm 5'6 and currently dieting. MyFitnessPal pal tells me I need to eat 1400 calories a day to lose a pound a week and this seems pretty accurate. (I actually try to keep to under 1200 a day so that I can have a few beers on the weekend)

Some do, some don't. Bodies are different shock.

It has so many variables: height, actual weight, activity levels, and, it would appear, composition of the types of foods you eat and how much energy is required by your body to process the food.

I absolutely did until the age of 42.

Everybody is different. I need 2100 calories roughly to maintain my weight. I walk, run and exercise everyday, I really wouldn't consider myself anywhere near an athlete. I'm 5'6" and my bmi is 19.

Someone 5' nothing who walks 3000 steps a day isn't going to need the same amount of calories as I do.

Maybe instead of the guidelines of 2000 calories it should be explained better that your calorie needs will depend on various factors and refer people to a calculator so they can work it out.