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

This. I have no idea how many calories I eat in a day and have no desire to. I am within the correct BMI range for my height and age.

These threads always muddle up 2 different things

The concept of what is good nutritious food compared to the concept of what is useful and you need to be mindful of if you need to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight

Things that are calorie and nutrient dense (salmon, nuts, avocados to name a few), great, eat by all means for healthy nutrition but be mindful of portion size when trying to lose weight because they are so calorie dense

Foods that are nutrient dense but lower in calorie are fine in larger portions when trying to maintain a deficit because they dont have such an impact

@NewYear24 I try to stick to around 1300 calories a day. I usually try and eat within a 6 hour window and have just black coffee for breakfast and nothing else. Lunch is generally either a salad or a toasted sandwich made with my own sourdough and a good amount of low fat protein such as skinless chicken or tuna. I don’t add mayo but will generally have a small portion of full fat cheese and a heap of rocket. I follow this up with some fruit, maybe a banana, apple or some pineapple etc. I only really drink water and never snack, this isn’t really a hardship as I’m not a crisp fan.

Supper is a normal but healthy main course, again with some fish, lean steak or chicken and lots of vegetables. If I’m having pasta or rice I am careful with portion sizes. Again I’ll always use double cream, full fat cheese etc in any sauces but try not to have too much. Afterwards I’ll have a small amount of dark chocolate.

If for some reason I am especially hungry at lunch or dinner I might add a small amount of my own granola (full of nuts and very little sugar) served with my own homemade yogurt (so no added sugar or anything else).

I am by nature a greedy person and love food and cooking but I also love clothes and am absolutely miserable if I’m overweight. Keeping sugar to a minimum really helps stifle hunger pangs for me and skipping breakfast means that if I’m meeting up with friends I can eat normally.

I eat around 1200 - 1300 a day. Today:

Protein shake
10 Almonds
1 boiled egg
Chicken salad with left over roast chicken, spinach leaves, cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, dressing made of teaspoon of olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Apple
Greek Yogurt with berries and lemon juice
Bolognese with spinach and tomatoes (no pasta)

I eat out about once a week and am very surprised at how high calories are. I choose fish or steak and don’t eat the chips.

I’ve lost 5 lbs so far. I’m 5 ft 2 and most days manage 10,000 steps plus some additional exercise but some days I’m pretty sedentary and might only walk 4000 steps.

I think that the people who have said that people under estimate how many calories they eat is correct. It is very easy to over eat if you don’t know how much you need of manage portion control.

I quite agree. This nonsense has been peddled for years.
Both my 6 foot sons had to cut down to 1250 cals to lose, as it was the only way to get a 500cal deficit. Their accurate smart watches worked their TDEE at 1750, not the ridiculous 2450 that the internet sites said.
In the 79s it was known that our total daily needs are nowhere near what they say nowadays.

Thanks OP - this thread made me look at my average calories burnt according to my fitbit and it's generally tracking 1700, and only 2000 if I go for a run.

I'd have assumed an intake of 1800 would have been a good deficit especially as I'm taller than average, but now see this probably isn't the case.

That’s an interesting point - I wonder when the numbers were calculated and if they calculated expected activity levels at he time. Surely they would have?

I'm 5' and pretty active, running, cycling, walking. I would soon be obese in no time on 2000 calories a day.

Yes, I don’t remember them being anything other than 2000 and 2500. I wonder how long the UK’s obesity rates have been higher than other countries.

Forgot to add that surely the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of many Brits is contributing to the growing obesity.

Oh dear @Comtesse pray tell us when you needed a qualification in public health to question health guidance?

As you can see from the thread (if you actually bothered to read it) a significant number of people have reached the same conclusion. My qualification to ask the question is from seeing the results from trying varied calorie intakes and opposing guidance from medical machines, one of which the NHS provides at my local
GP surgery…

As you’re so informed and qualified maybe you can tell us why the guidance isn’t consistent if it’s so carefully reviewed and signed off

I dont know how people find the time for 10000 steps?

Choose an active job?

Oh ok

I'll just end my professional career that has taken me over 30 years to develop, wont worry about the pension and mortgage and get a paper found.

Anytime! I thought it was worth asking the question as the discrepancy between guidance and real life just didn’t make sense to me.

I’m stating the obvious here but I think we’re far more informed now with the wearable tech that we can use to capture personal measurements. We didn’t have that before so it was harder for us to ‘prove’ what our actual activity levels were and also what our calorie intake/output was.

I would hope that it’s not just us, the user, that’s more informed and hopefully we’ll see some refined guidance and advice in the years to come

I doubt that most people are obese because they’ve been diligently following NHS guidelines for years.

😂

I’m also in a sedentary career role. I had considered getting an under-the-desk treadmill for days WFH - they’re a real thing that I found by accident, but didn’t think it would look great seeing me bobbing up and down and I don’t know how I could effectively write on one either. One for the meetings (off camera) maybe…

Well dont forget while walking on it you have to carry one of those green smoothies and drink that while you're going along

No I agree. But I think it gives people a false sense of security in thinking that at a blanket level number, 2000 is acceptable as a healthy eating intake guide when in reality a significant number of people, even just in the this thread, admit that they would gain a lot of weight or be obese with that intake amount

😂 I forgot the smoothie!

This is seriously impressive. I had to write a food diary once for someone else for over a week, right down the ml of liquid and grams of food.. it was such a commitment, I just couldn’t do it myself

That's likely how people do it. Many jobs are active that aren't a paper round, anything that isn't completely sedentary would put a significant dent in 10000 steps.

I know, Im being facetious.

My OH walks about 10 miles a day while at work, his phone tracks it and I always think hes making it up because I cant comprehend that someone can walk that much.

5 foot 6 is definitely not the average height for a woman!!! 5 foot 3 to 5 ft 4 is average from a simple Google search and loads of different sources.

I'm 5'5", 45kg, so underweight according to the BMI calculators.

I go to the gym 3-4 times for cardio classes, run once a week, don't do a lot of steps at work but probably burn a lot of nervous energy.

I eat at least 2000 calories a day, almost certainly more as I stop counting when I get there. Can't manage to eat enough to gain weight even though my Fitbit says I only burn 1800 calories a day on average.

If I only ate 1200 calories I would vomit or keel over.

Actually now I'm writing this I think I should seek medical attention!! Or maybe it's just all individual...