When your body absorbs nutrients, enough energy is generated for your cells to function normally , hence the importance of eating the necessary calories that your body needs , taking into account your age, weight, height and gender.
Calculate how much energy you need to be well:
Basal metabolic expenditure
Women: 655 + (9.7 x weight (Kg)) + (1.8 x size (cm)) – (4.7 x age (years))
Men: 66 + (13.7 x weight (Kg)) + (5 x size (cm)) – (6.8 x age (years))
When calculating this parameter we will know the energy needed if we were at rest . However, this is not the real requirement of a person since it is necessary to take into account the energy to perform our daily activities .
Below, you will find a requirement table by activity so that depending on the type of activity that is closest to your pace of life, multiply it to your basal metabolic expenditure:
| Activity requirement table | |
| Exercise | Request |
| Sedentary: Typical activities of daily living (eg, household chores, walking to the bus, driving, writing, watching TV). |
1.0 – 1.39 |
| Active low: Typical daily activities live MORE 30 minutes of moderate daily physical activity (ex: slow walk). |
1.4 – 1.59 |
| Active: Daily activities typical of living MORE at least 60 minutes of moderate daily physical activity (ex: fast walking, dancing). |
1.6 – 1.89 |
| Very active: Typical daily activities live MORE at least 60 minutes of vigorous daily physical activity or 120 minutes of moderate daily physical activity (ex: sports: Soccer, basketball, etc) |
1.9 – 2.5 |
Finally, you get the 10% value that corresponds to the thermal effect of food that refers to the energy we consume since we chew a food until its nutrients are absorbed, metabolized and transported by the body.
Let’s look at this example:
Woman, 26 years, weight: 60 Kg, Size: 167 cm, Activity: Active
Metabolic expenditure for women: 655 + (9.7 x 60) + (1.8 x 167) – (4.7 x 26)
Basal metabolic expenditure = 1415 calories
Now we multiply the value obtained by 1.6 that corresponds to the activity requirement: 1415 x 1.6: 2264 calories.
Finally, we get 10% at 2264 which corresponds to 226.4 and add it to 2264: 2264 + 226.4: 2490.Therefore, the energy that this person requires to be well is 2490 calories .