Calories & Weight Loss

Adult women typically need 1,600–2,400 calories per day, with sedentary closer to 1,600–1,800 and active about 2,200–2,400.

During menstruation, extra burn is small—about 0–30 kcal per day; the bigger rise often lands in the luteal days just before bleeding.

While breastfeeding, adults need maintenance plus ~330–500 extra kcal daily; most land near 2,100–2,700 kcal based on activity and months postpartum.

Most adults stay healthy on 1,600–3,000 calories per day, matched to age, body size, and activity; track weight for 2–4 weeks to fine-tune.

During pregnancy, aim for ~2,000–2,800 kcal/day: +0 in 1st trimester, +340 in 2nd, +450 in 3rd, adjusted for size and activity.

For a singleton pregnancy: +0 kcal in trimester 1, +340 in trimester 2, and +450 in trimester 3, layered on your usual daily needs.

Teen daily calorie needs range from 1,600–3,200 kcal per day, changing with age, sex, and activity.

For most adults, roughly 1,200–1,800 calories per day covers basal needs to stay alive, driven by age, sex, size, and lean mass.

Most adults land near 25–30 kcal per kg of body weight after routine surgery, rising toward 30–35 kcal/kg during tougher recoveries.

During menstruation, most people burn about the same; shifts are small (0–50 kcal/day), with bigger bumps for some in the pre-period luteal days.