1. Calories

2. What is a calorie?
Calories are units of energy
The measurement of calories in food is a
measure of how much potential energy that
food possesses
This energy supplies our bodies with a fuel for
movement.

3. Monitoring Calories
Each person needs a different number of
calories per day, based on these factors:
Basil Metabolic Rate (BMR): The minimum
amount of energy to keep you alive
Physical Activity: The amount of energy
used by moving our bodies
Thermic Effect of Food: The amount of

4. Recommended Daily
Allowance of Calories
Children, teenage girls, active women &
sedentary men: ~2,000 calories
Teenage boys and active men: ~2,000 calories
Sedentary women and some older adults:
~1,600 calories

5. Burning Calories
In order to maintain body weight, the number
of calories you take in, needs to equal the
number of calories you use as energy
3,500 calories is equal to about 1 pound of fat

6. Example Activities
Backpacking: 413 calories / hour
Bicycling: 236
Cleaning house: 207
Bowling: 177
Aerobic Activities (basketball, running...) 472