AIBU to think that guideline ‘suggested calories per day’ should be reduce

[Crepid]

We all know that the NHS guidance is that adult women should eat 2,000 calories per day and men should eat 2,500.

I’ve also just seen that a 7 year old girl is suggested to eat over 1,500 calories a day - again, the source is the NHS.

I’m 5ft 6, and have a BMI are the upper end of normal (very close to overweight) and I would say that I am probably a little overweight (fat around my abdomen and generally not as slim as I’d like but I’m on track).

In the past year I’ve taken to the gym where, combined with eating less and healthier food, I’m happy to say I’ve managed to lose about 1.5 stone (9.5kg).

For motivation, every time I attend the gym I use a new body sensor device that gives me a detailed breakdown of my stats and it clearly states that to maintain my weight and physique I should eat no more than 1,350 calories per day.

Obesity is causing a huge strain on the NHS and robbing people of their mobility and broader health.

Why are they recommending that people eat 2,000 calories per day when myself - a woman of larger than average height and medium activity levels is being told on both the gym equipment and the GP surgery machine that 1,300 calories will suffice in keeping me at the upper region of ‘healthy’ if not close to overweight?

That’s less than a 7 year old child.

AIBU to think that the calorie suggestions should be lowered to combat it?

YABU - calorie guidance should stick at 2000/2500 calories

YANBU - calorie guidance should be reviewed and lowered

LOL X-post 😅

I'm 5'6 and over 11 stone - so I'm overweight.

I've been dieting and had a period of ill health that meant I could not do any exercise at all - spent every day either sitting or lying down.

At that time, if I ate more than 1100 - 1200 calories a day I would gain weight.

Even when I'm more active, including swimming for 3/4 hours a week, I gain weight if I eat over 1400 calories. It's hard because I bloody love food! I am not a mumsnet competitive under eater, it's a constant battle to not eat massive pieces of cake and chocolate and pastry!

The 2000 calories is a nonsense from my experience.

Something that has been really eye opening is the calories on menus. I went out the other week and good third of the meals on a pub menu were over 1500. That's insane. I've also noticed the things I would have chosen before, thinking they were healthy (like a salad!) can be ridiculously high in calories.

This would be a great start 👏🏽

the average British woman shouldn’t be eating 2,000 calories a day.

OP doesn't think she's average, she reckons she's taller & more active.
Wikipedia reckons the avg British woman has 72 kg mass
Off hand I think the median age of British adults is 46yo, assume 48yo for females (they live longer)

This TDEE calculator reckons 2113 kcal/day for maintenance.

So... 2000 for an "average" adult F, seems about perfect imho.

I eat a lot more & always have done (with changing weight)

I totally agree, OP.

I'm 5'4 and overweight.

My Fitbit and Renpho body scale take pretty accurate measurements of fat, bone mass, muscle mass etc.

My basal metabolic rate is around 1600 (😢😢😢😢) .

2000 cals a day for the 'average woman' (who doesn't exist) is definitely OTT.

I hadn't thought about it but yes I think you are right actually

But a woman who weighed 72kg and was 165cm would be overweight.

That source is saying the average British woman is overweight so your point on 2000 calories a day is literally saying: if you want to be overweight eat 2000 calories a day

I agree that 2000 is too many for a lot of women. I am 5ft 2 and on a sedentary day will only burn around 1400 calories. I need to do some serious moving to get anywhere near 2000 calories. I average anywhere between 1500 - 1900 depending on how active I am. 2000 for me would mean weight gain.

The '5-a-day' is far too low.
The 2000 calorie a day is a guideline, but I suspect many underestimate their intake. The portion sizes is likely to be far smaller than actual portions.

A 165cm, 72kg woman is ‘overweight’ according to the NHS- the same people advocating 2000 calories per day

I just did that calcuator as the 5ft 5, 61kg, 48 year old i am, doing light exercise and it was just over 1700.
I feel very average.

I've calculated my TDEE and done all the various calculators and they often come up with around 2100 calories for maintenance based on my height and activity levels. If I eat anywhere close to that I would pile on weight so not sure if there's something wrong with me 🤷

That's for maintenance not losing weight. For me I do maintain my weight eating 2000 calories a day approx.
The thing is lowering it too much could be dangerous. Everyone's body is different even if same height so yes for some people 2000 calories a day may make them gain weight... however if the NHS recommends a daily average which is too low it puts more people's health at risk than having it slightly too high iyswim. So no I don't think they should lower it. I just think people should understand its a generally guideline but everyone's metabolism is different so you might have to work out your individual calorie needs if you are trying to lose or maintain weight.
What you do not want is loads of people undereating or trying to undereat due to nhs guidelines.. so they have to use general averages and err on the side of caution. Obesity is a long term problem but suddenly starting to dramatically undereat can cause immediate heart problems etc it would be dangerous of the NHS to round down with the numbers.
I mean it varies massively between individuals anyway... like I said I do fine on roughly 2000 calories and I'm 5ft 7. I'm not particularly sporty either.. I walk alot and live in a very hilly area but I don't go to the gym or anything.

This is what I’m saying - I would argue there is nothing wrong with you. Something is wrong with guideline and suggested calorie intakes: they’re too high!

I am 5 foot 5 average weight and eat over 2000 calories a day on average. I am more active than most though - cycle and walk for main transport although don't often do proper "exercise".

I don't understand how anyone can cope on 1300 calories a day. You must be skipping a meal or having really tiny portions.

the average is probably not aimed at gym bunnies, arduous calorie counters or people that use a fitbit or similar to monitor calories in and exercise.
Someone that regularly eats takeaways, cakes, maybe a croissant for lunch is probably way over 2,000 - if it nudges that person to eat less, probably doing good.

I find it a bit of a nonsense anyway - if I cut calories drastically, I poo a lot less - so presumably the body is self regulating to an extent in that if you eat more crap than you need, you excrete it.

@Crepid

A woman who is 5'5 and 11 stone is only just overweight, and may not really be at all, depending on build and muscle. BMI is only just over 'normal' range, but there are a lot more factors unreality.

I'm with you on the average calories though.

Basal metabolic rate is no exercise at all. Spend an hour a day walking and you will need the extra calories.
Many people have active jobs and or no car. The advice cannot suit only people who literally drive everywhere and sit doing between. It has to be aimed an an average level of activity

If it's the new DL bio age system, it gives you basal metabolic rate, which is just what your body needs to run the body's basoc systems at rest.

I find calorie counting bonkers anyway butc that's because i cannot relate to numbers. I tried it, including weighing my food, and i gained weight. I also get irritated with the 5 a day crap. A portion of fruit and veg is so many g, but i don't have a lived sense of this so had to weigh every damn thing. That's not practical. I've changed what i eat and that's been the solution.

I'd be extremely underweight and unhappy on 1300 calories a day! I generally eat between 1,600 and 1,900 per day, am 5'10 and fluctuate between 9 st 5 and 9 st 8 (that equates to a BMI of 18.7-19.2).

It's very personal, but bodies are more sensitive to weight gain once you've been overweight. I think the real problem is, people have forgotten what healthy bodies look like and how to apply common sense to what they eat. I generally pay attention to what I'm fuelling myself with rather than purely obsessing on calories and allow treats within the context of a healthy diet.

I think blanketly advising people to eat 1300 would be dangerous though.

It's a rough and ready guide but it's not that far away usually and I'm surprised at your results. I'm the same height, at the bottom end of the healthy BMI range, not very active (yoga and a bit of walking around) and I need about 1,800 calories a day to maintain.

If I want to lose weight (slowly), then I have to eat circa 1400 calories a day and exercise in some capacity a few times a week. I'm 5ft 4 and am very sedentary at work.

I can only dream of eating 2000 calories a day.

You burn calories from more than just exercise. Digesting food, breathing, regeneration etc… in fact exercise is only a tiny bit of calories burned even for someone very active.

the ‘average’ woman probably does need 2k calories of good, nutritious food to sustain overall health being moderately active. Good food is the fuel for feeling healthy, recovering etc.

I know if I ate less than 2k calories a day I would feel like absolute shite and I’d be less inclined to be active at all as I wouldn’t have the energy.

When I was boxing as an amateur, I ate close to 2,700kcal per day to fuel myself adequately to train whilst losing weight. I’m 5”9, very broad shouldered, and more built to lift heavy things than run marathons.

Everyone is different. Just because you can get by eating like a bird doesn’t mean the average should be lowered.

If I ate 2,000 calories a day I would be overweight.

I’m not sure what the solution is though as no matter what the guide figure is, it’s going to be too high or too low for lots of people.