Caloric Intake

Factors That Affect Caloric Intake

 

What is a Calorie?
Calories are a unit of heat energy. When something contains 100 calories, it's a way of describing how much energy your body could get from eating or drinking it. All foods have calories, and different foods contain different amounts of calories. Calories come from fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Fats have the highest concentration of calories, with nine calories being equal to one gram of pure fat. Protein and carbohydrates both have four calories per gram of pure protein and pure carbohydrate.

Calories In Your Body: 
Your body needs some calories just to operate; keeping your heart beating, lungs breathing, and bones and muscles growing. Although your body needs calories for energy it is possible to eat too many calories because and you are not burning enough of them off through activity. This intake of calories without working them off can lead to weight gain. Caloric requirements are caloric intake levels that one is recommended to take in every day. These caloric requirements are set in order to maintain energy balance in one's body.

 Calories In Your Food:
Almost every food and drink contains calories and you can find out how many calories are in it by looking at the nutrition facts label. The label also will describe the components of the food how many grams of carbohydrate, protein, and fat it contains. Some people watch their calories when they are trying to lose weight, but this is highly discouraged for teens because they need all the calories they can get to grow and develop. This doesn't mean they can eat everything and anything they want, they still should eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Factors That Affect Caloric Intake:

• gender
• age
• activity levels
• body size

Teen's caloric intake and nutrition needs vary based specifically on gender, age, activity levels, and body size. On average teenage boys need more calories then girls based on body size. Teenage boys need 1,800-2,600 calories a day when they're 11 to 13 years old, and 2,200-3,200 calories a day when they're 14 to 18 years old. Teenage girls need 1,800-2,200 calories a day if when they're 11 to 13, and 1,800-2,400 calories a day when they're 14 to 18 years old. Teens that do more strenuous physical activity will require more calories because they need more energy.

1,800 to 2,600 calories a day if they're 11 to 13 years, and 2,200 to 3,200 - See more at: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420#sthash.Pw9LYhQu.dpuf

1,800 to 2,600 calories a day if they're 11 to 13 years, and 2,200 to 3,200 - See more at: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420#sthash.Pw9LYhQu.dpufv

References:
http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420
http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/calorie.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessResource/story?id=6762725
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/calorie_intake.htm

Pictures:
http://moz.com/ugc/enhance-your-analytics-with-age-and-gender-demographics 
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-123169468/stock-photo-calories-spelled-out-in-biscuits-unhealthy-diet-aperitif.html

Teens need somewhat more calories than when they were a bit younger. Teenage boys on average need 1,800 to 2,600 calories a day if they're 11 to 13 years, and 2,200 to 3,200 calories a day if they're 14 to 18 years of age. Teenage girls need more, too: 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day if they're ages 11 to 13, and 1,800 to 2,400 calories a day if they're age 14 to 18. Their gender, body size, growth rate and activity level specifically determine how many calories they need. Those involved in strenuous physical activity such as soccer, basketball, football or other sports may need 3,500 calories (more or less) daily. - See more at: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420#sthash.Pw9LYhQu.dpuf

Teens need somewhat more calories than when they were a bit younger. Teenage boys on average need 1,800 to 2,600 calories a day if they're 11 to 13 years, and 2,200 to 3,200 calories a day if they're 14 to 18 years of age. Teenage girls need more, too: 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day if they're ages 11 to 13, and 1,800 to 2,400 calories a day if they're age 14 to 18. Their gender, body size, growth rate and activity level specifically determine how many calories they need. Those involved in strenuous physical activity such as soccer, basketball, football or other sports may need 3,500 calories (more or less) daily. - See more at: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420#sthash.Pw9LYhQu.dpuf

Teens need somewhat more calories than when they were a bit younger. Teenage boys on average need 1,800 to 2,600 calories a day if they're 11 to 13 years, and 2,200 to 3,200 calories a day if they're 14 to 18 years of age. Teenage girls need more, too: 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day if they're ages 11 to 13, and 1,800 to 2,400 calories a day if they're age 14 to 18. Their gender, body size, growth rate and activity level specifically determine how many calories they need. Those involved in strenuous physical activity such as soccer, basketball, football or other sports may need 3,500 calories (more or less) daily. - See more at: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442459420#sthash.Pw9LYhQu.dpuf