A Healthy Eating Plan
Calories
To lose weight, most people need to cut down on the number of calories (units of energy) they get from food and beverages and increase their physical activity. For a weight loss of 1–2 pounds per week, daily intake should be reduced by 500 to 1,000 calories. In general:
- Eating plans containing 1,000 to 1,200 calories will help most women to lose weight safely.
- Eating plans between 1,200 calories and 1,600 calories each day are suitable for men and may also be appropriate for women who weigh 165 pounds or more or who exercise regularly.
If you are on a 1,600 calorie diet but do not lose weight, you may want to try a 1,200 calorie diet. If you are hungry on either diet, you may want to boost your calories by 100 to 200 per day. Very low calorie diets of less than 800 calories each day should not be used routinely because they require special monitoring by your doctor.
Goals for Weight Loss and Management
The following are goals for weight loss and management:
- Reduce body weight if overweight or obese.
- Maintain a lower body weight over the long term.
- Prevent further weight gain (a minimum goal).
