Isn't it time we stopped saying 200/2500 calories a day?

[hidinginthenightgarden]

This is what the NHS website says.
"Within a healthy, balanced diet, a man needs around 10,500kJ (2,500kcal) a day to maintain his weight. For a woman, that figure is around 8,400kJ (2,000kcal) a day.
These values can vary depending on age, metabolism and levels of physical activity, among other things."

People will look at that and think they can have 2000 calories a day, more if they exercise a lot. But that isn't the case.
Shouldn't it say around 1500 calories (for women) but varies with age, activity levels etc? That way people will eat up to 2000 calories when doing exercise not when sat on their arse?

2000/2500 is taught at a young age but the "this varies depending on exercise" bit isn't! I teach maths and one of the exam papers even has a task where you work out what 1 third of your 2000 calories is and pick meal from a fast food menu to "fit in with your recommended calories".

I just think it would help with the obesity levels to re-educate people and this is probably a good place to start.

I weigh all the food I eat at home and calorie count everything using MyFitnessPal.

I would be gargantuan if I ate 2000 calories a day. I maintain on 1300 and lose on 1000-1200.

Definitely agree that the guidelines need updating and also agree that most people don't track/grossly underestimate what they're consuming (then seem surprised that they're overweight 🤔).

Everyone's different depending on current weight, activity level/occupation.
I'm trying to gain weight as looking a bit scrawny at 8 stone/5ft7, and want to strength train to get some muscles.
MFP worked out I needed 2000 cals a day to gain a pound a week, gained 4 pounds in past 4 weeks so on the right track.
I feel like I'm eating all the time and it seems a huge amount.

I tend to have 1200 - 1500 calories per day PLUS daily exercise and just about maintain my weight. If I am nearer the 1500 for a whole week then my weight goes up. But I think I have a thyroid problem which my GP isn’t prepared to entertain (other obvious symptoms and doctor in France said I should ask my GP to treat for under active thyroid. If it didn’t “fix” me then my thyroid isn’t the problem no harm done, but U.K. GP isn’t interested 😞).

I'm currently on 1300 - 1400 a day and losing about 1/2 lb a week. I was maintaining on about 1600.

Calorie counting isn’t as important as it is pedalled to be. What is important is getting the correct nutrition and aiming to eat a balanced diet. If you are trying to lose weight, make healthy switches and exercise more. People have sedentary jobs but it doesn’t stop them exercising before/after work and on their days off.

2000 calories is way too many for me.
I need around 1000 calories to lose weight. Even 1200 is closer to maintaining rather than actively losing. It's bloody depressing.

I would be massive if I ate anything like 2000 calories a day. I need to eat around 1200 just to keep a reasonable size.

I am amazed so many of you know how many calories you eat. I have no idea and have never counted.

I have never been overweight though.

I think a lot of you have fucked up your metabolism with dieting. 2000 calories is fine for an average, reasonably active person.

"I think a lot of you have fucked up your metabolism with dieting. 2000 calories is fine for an average, reasonably active person."

but I'm an "average UK woman" 5'5" and exercise twice a week. 1600 is my "stay the same" calorie goal.... Nothing to do with dieting or anything else - normal metabolism... Maybe if I did 10,000 steps a day I could go to 2000 calories....

Most people don't count calories. Anyone who is going to go to the tedious effort of doing a calorie-counted diet is probably going to look into it a bit further than just going with the 2000 calories figure tbh. Everyone knows that people of different heights and activity levels will need different amounts of food.

I have never taken the 2000 thong as gospel, or an "aim". Who does? (Op?)

I have only taken it ever as a rough guideline, thinking: well I am 6ft and fairly active so I can eat more than 2000cals, and then I do (and don't get fat...yet, menopause may throw me a curved ball I guess )

If I'd eat 1500 as suggested by OP Id fade away

Everyone knows that people of different heights and activity levels will need different amounts of food

deffo height and build

I've just calculated my TDEE.

I'm 5' 7" and a little over 12 stone. So yes, I'm slightly overweight, but by my own emission, I binge on crap and drink too much alcohol. If I could eat better, I do lose weight fairly easily. I'd probably like to lose 10-15 pounds.

I'm 45 and lightly active (1-2 days per week activity/exercise) according to tdeecalculator.net/. I mostly work in an office but do have an 'out and about' workday about once a week, that can be quite active. I usually go for one longish walk most weekends (about 7 miles) and I have a half arsed attempt at running 5k once or twice a week. So not a huge amount of exercise, maybe just about the minimum levels for some sort of health boost.

My TDEE for maintenance is 1992 calories, or if they above counts as moderately active, which I don't think it does, it goes up to 2246 calories. I am Ms Average.

Incidentally, to get as low as 1300 calories TDEE, you have to be short, light (5 2 and under 8 stone) and sedentary, so either some people are shorter and already slimmer than average and not very active, or they are underestimating how much they eat.

It's quite meaningless I think. Most people underestimate the calories they actually eat. And they very rarely eat the same amount each day. If you add it up over the week, I bet few people stick to the no of calories required to lose weight. I know I don't. All it takes is one takeaway or meal out in any given week and I've blown any diet.

Calories don't really work for me because I lack the discipline to stick to 1200 a day every day.

If women aim for 1500 calories, the odd treat and a few glasses of wine will bump them up to maintenance level. If they aim for 2000 calories their treats and wine will make them gain weight. So imo it would be more sensible to aim for 1500 calories of food with the understanding that you can have a couple of drinks or treats on top of that.

Telling women to aim for 1500 calories is aiming for (most) women to undereat.

And regular undereating (in other words "dieting") is exactly what fucks up so many womens metabolism

Aiming to be thin is what makes so many people fat!

Aiming to be fitter, or stronger, or more flexible etc is so much more productive.

Imagine if Serena Williams dieted herself thin, what a waste that would be!

A hell of a lot of people would lose weight on 1500 calories a day. That's why it's recommended as a starting point for weight loss if you have 3 stone or more to lose.

When I was early 20s, it was 2,000 for a man and 1,500 for a woman.
On a diet, it went down to 1,500 for a man and a 1,000 for a woman.

I can't believe the recommendations are so high these days.

Sorry Op .
Take care

Do people really count their calories day in and day out? I don't have a clue how many I eat daily.
I don't really eat a lot of ready made stuff that lists the calorie counts though.

I think a lot of you have fucked up your metabolism with dieting. 2000 calories is fine for an average, reasonably active person.

This ^

Who lives their lives round some guidelines? Engage your brain! If your clothes don't fit or you don't like how you look, stop eating so much and do more exercise.

Apparently so, max and are very preoccupied with what everyone else might be doing or eating.

My metabolism is fucked

Nothing to do with dieting though

No idea how many calories I eat but my Fitbit tells me I burn between 2000 and 2200 calories on a normal day, can be 2500 if I go for a run. I'm 5'7" and a healthy weight