4-^ BIOLOGICAL ENERGETICS 



Table 16-6 

 Recommended daily calorie allowances * 



Calories 



Men (154 lb, 70 kg.): 



Sedentaiy 2,400 



Physically active 3,000 



With heavy work 4,500 



Women (123 lb, 56 kg.): 



Sedentaiy 2,000 



Moderately active 2,400 



Very active 3,000 



Pregnancy (latter half) 2,400 



Lactation 3,000 



Children : 



Under 1 yr 110/2.2 lb. (1 kg.) 



1-3 yrs. (27 lb., 12 kg.) 1,200 



4-6 yrs. (42 lb., 19 kg.) 1,600 



7-9 yrs. (58 lb., 26 kg.) 2,000 



10-12 yrs. (78 lb., 35 kg.) 2,500 



Girls, 13-15 yrs. (108 lb.) 2,600 



Girls, 16-20 yrs. (122 lb.) 2,400 



Boys, 13-15 yrs. (108 lb.) 3,200 



Boys, 16-20 yrs. (141 lb.) 3,800 



* "Calorie allowances must be adjusted up or down to meet specific needs. The 

 calorie values in the table are, therefore, not applicable to all individuals but, rather, 

 represent group averages. The proper calorie allowance is that which over an ex- 

 tended period will maintain body weight or rate of growth at the level most conducive 

 to well-being." ' 



There is only one possible cause of obesity, namely, a greater aver- 

 age calorie intake over extended periods of time than is balanced by 

 energy expenditures. No matter what the other circumstances may be, 

 if the body weight is increasing (beyond the bounds of normal growth), 

 the food intake must be excessive. Frequently this simple and obvious 

 fact is either disbelieved or ignored. Perhaps one reason for this is that 

 the relation between the calories eaten and the amount of work needed 

 to use them up is not clearly appreciated. Some specific examples may 

 help to emphasize this relationship. Suppose a young woman has a 

 light snack, consisting of one ounce of shelled peanuts, in addition to 

 regular meals sufficient for normal energy requirements. One ounce of 

 peanuts has a physiological fuel value of about 180 Cal.^ (Appendix, 

 Table A-1), which is equivalent to slightly over 540,000 foot-pounds of 

 work.^ Assuming that this energy is converted into work with 20 per 

 cent efficiency, a 56 kg. (123 lb.) woman would have to climb a vertical 



^ Most of the popular five-cent candy bars also contribute about this same number of 

 calories. 



^ One Cal. equals slightly more than 3000 foot-pounds. 



