Caloric Intake

According to the Weight Loss Center, the average amount of calories a teenage girl should consume between the ages of 11 and 14 is 2,200 and 2,500 calories for boys. The average amount of caloric intake is not the same for every teen in fact, the caloric requirements for a teenager varies depending on the teen’s weight, age, and activity level.

            Compared to an average active teenager, an inactive obese teenager should consume fewer calories than an average active teenager to maintain their weight because he or she will burn fewer calories. Avoiding junk food and other high calorie snacks and meals can make a big difference in losing extra pounds without starving yourself.

            According to the University of Iowa Health Care Program, “Excess calorie consumption plays a major role in being overweight.” To lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you consume. To lose a pound, you would have to burn off approximately 3,500 calories. To avoid obesity, its important to avoid fast food or take-out stores because approximately one fast food meal on average can add up to 1,200 calories which is about half of the daily average calories needed.              

 

What is a Calorie?

            A calorie is “A unit of food energy”, according to MedTerms.com. Women Republic states “One calorie is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius”. If you consume fewer calories than your body needs you can damage your body because it can lead to anything from skin diseases to bone diseases. Consuming too much calories than your body needs, the extra calories will be stored as fat over time. An obese teenager who is not active should eat lower than the average caloric intake amount to avoid gaining more weight.