Depending on your age, weight, sex and activity level, your body requires a certain number of calories to maintain weight. Knowing how many calories you expend daily can help you to avoid gaining weight, and to lose weight if necessary.
CONSIDERATIONS
Women generally expend fewer calories per day than men, and older adults generally expend fewer than younger adults. The more active you are, the more calories you require to maintain your weight. If you lose weight, you will need and expend fewer calories.
CALORIC RECOMMENDATIONS
The American Heart Association offers general recommendations based on sex, age and activity level. Generally, women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories daily to maintain weight, and men require between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day. For a more personalized recommendation, ask your doctor or use a calorie calculator, such as the one offered on the American Cancer Society website.
AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
If you have an active lifestyle, you can consume more calories and still avoid gaining weight. You can burn calories with aerobic exercise, and you can also make small lifestyle changes, such as using the stairs instead of the elevator or parking at the far end of the parking lot when running errands to increase the number of calories that you expend each day.
REFERENCES
American Heart Association: Know How Many Calories You Should Eat
MayoClinic.com: Exercise for Weight Loss --- Calories Burned in One Hour