What are My Calorie, Protein, Fat, & Carbohydrate Needs?

Calorie Needs:
The Harris-Benedict Equation for Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE) is commonly used to figure energy requirements based on sex, height, weight and age.

  • W = weight in kilograms
  • H = height in centimeters
  • A = age in years

Male:  BEE = 66.67 + 13.75W + 5H – 6.76A
Female: BEE = 665.1 + 9.56W +1.85H -4.68A.

Example:
Beth is a 47 year-old female. She is 5’5” tall and weighs 147 pounds. What is her BEE?
(147 pounds)/(2.2 pounds/kg) = 66.8 kg
(65 inches)(2.54 cm/inch) = 165 cm
BEE = 655.1 + [(9.6)(66.8 kg)] + [(5.0)(165 cm)] – [(4.7)(47 age)]
BEE = 655.1 + 641 + 825 – 221 = 1900 calories

If Beth gets regular physical activity, her BEE may need to be multiplied by a factor of 1.2-1.5 to account for extra calories needed during exercise. A factor of 1.2 represents an average amount of activity, where 1.5 would be a very high amount of activity. We’ll say Beth gets an average amount of activity. In this case her needs would be:

  • 1900 calories (1.2) = 2280 calories

Find out more here -> Calculators

 

Dietary Guidelines:

  • 45–65 percent carbohydrates
  • 10–30 percent protein
  • 20–35 percent fat

 

Protein Needs
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends daily protein intake for healthy adults as 0.8-1.0 g of protein/kg body weight.

Example:
Jay weighs 168 pounds. How much protein does he need per day?
(168)/(2.2g/kg) = 76.4 kg

76.4 kg (.8 g/kg) = 61 g
76.4 kg (1.0 g/kg) = 76 g 61 – 76 grams of protein per day

 

Fat Needs
Fat intake should equal 30% of your total days calories.

Example:
Jackie consumes 1600 calories per day. How many calories and grams of fat
should she be consuming each day? 1 gram of fat = 9 calories
1600 calories (.30) = 480 calories from fat
(480 calories)/(9 calories/g) = 53 grams of fat per day

 

Carbohydrate Needs
The USDA recommends that 45 to 65 percent of your total daily calories come from carbohydrates.

For example: To consume 60% of total daily calories from carbohydrate sources:
• A moderately active 18-year old male who requires 2800 calories a day would need to consume 1680 calories from carbohydrate sources.
• A moderately active 18-year old female who requires 2000 calories a day would need to consume 1200 calories from carbohydrate sources.
Fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk are carbohydrate sources.

13 low-carb fruits and vegetables

 

Reference:
https://www.k-state.edu/paccats/Contents/Nutrition/PDF/Needs.pdf

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320773#takeaway