A calorie (kcal) is a unit measuring the energy that food provides. Your body burns it constantly, even at rest.

Where your needs come from

Your needs depend on several factors:

• Your age, sex and body composition.
• Your basal metabolic rate (the energy you use at rest).
• Your daily level of physical activity.

A rough order of magnitude

As a rough guide, an adult often needs between 1,800 and 2,500 kcal a day. That is only an average: everyone is different. Eating until you are comfortably satisfied, while listening to your body’s signals, remains an excellent guide.

Key takeaway: calories measure energy. Your needs are your own; general figures are nothing more than reference points.