Skip to site navigation Skip to Content This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Brain tumor, breast cancer, colon cancer, congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmia. Javascript is required in calories per gram of protein to use this web app.

Use the calorie calculator to estimate the number of daily calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Select the statement that best describes your usual activity level. Inactive: Never or rarely include physical activity in your day. Somewhat active: Include light activity or moderate activity about two to three times a week.

People judge the intensity of their activities differently. And activity levels can change over time. So think of your calorie estimate as a starting point and adjust it up or down as you alter your activity level. Created by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research based on Harris Benedict Equation and Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes. Privacy assurance: Information that you enter won’t be saved or sent to any website. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Reprint PermissionsA single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Mayo Clinic Healthy Living,” and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. But how does an understanding of calories help with weight control and weight loss?

Counting calories is one way to monitor weight loss. How many calories should you eat every day? Do you need to cut calories for weight loss? What’s the best way to lose weight? What are calories, why do we need them, and can a better understanding of calories help us maintain a healthier weight throughout our lives? Calories are units of energy that a food or drink provides. You can usually find calorie counts listed on food items, and wearables like the best fitness trackers allow you monitor how many calories you’re burning by doing different activities.

Certain foods, such as fatty, fried, or processed foods, tend to have more calories. We need calories to give us enough energy to move around, stay warm, grow, work, think, and play. Even our blood circulation and digestion need the energy gained from calories in order to function well. How many calories we need each day depends on our age, whether we’re trying to lose weight, how active we are, and several other factors. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the latest research and speaking to expert nutritionists to gain a greater understanding of calories, and why they’re so important.

The term calorie has been in use since the early 19th century, when it was used to define the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of water from 0 degrees to 1 degree Celsius. In fact, a standard calorie is made up of 1,000 small calories, or gram calories. However, use of the term kilocalorie faded in the early 20th century, when calories became scientifically defined in terms of joules. This is why in some parts of the world, such as parts of Europe or Australia, people use the term kilojoules instead of calories. One calorie is equal to 4. Other macronutrients, such as fiber, may differ in calorie content depending on whether it is soluble or insoluble fiber.