Calories are a measure of the amount of
energy in food. Knowing how many calories are in our food can help us
to balance the energy we put in with the energy we take out. And that’s
the key to reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. The recommended daily
calorie intake varies from person to person, but the new UK Department of
Health Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) are based on a daily calorie intake
of 2079 calories per day for women and 2605 calories per day for men.
How many calories are needed each day can
vary greatly depending on lifestyle and other factors. Factors that affect
your personal daily calorie needs include your age, height and weight, your
basic level of daily activity, and your body composition. To lose weight,
you need to eat less calories per day than your body needs, or use up more
calories via exercise. To lose 1lb a week you need a negative calorie balance
of 500 calories per day. To lose weight at 2lb a week you need a negative
balance of 1000 calories a day. Etcetera.
A general problem (not pointing a finger at
you!) in the West is that people tend to underestimate how much they
eat, and overestimate the amount of exercise they do. You can see the
potential problem there!
There are plenty of tools available to help
you assess your current levels of fitness, (or otherwise!) The NHS have a
useful series of health tools online, both around fitness and weight loss.
Another measure worth being aware of is
your BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI is a useful measure of overweight and
obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of
body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more
body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain complications
such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones,
breathing problems and certain cancers.
Although BMI can be
used for most men and women, it does have some limits. It may overestimate
body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build, and may
underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle
You can check out your own BMI via this
handy app on our Facebook Page.
And on the subject of facts and figures-
did you know that the length from your wrist to your elbow is the same as the
length of your foot? And that it is impossible to lick your elbow.
Almost…
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