How Many Calories Should a Child Consume Daily?

As the number of cases of childhood obesity soars, many parents are beginning to take notice. If you're concerned about how much your child is eating, you may wonder just how many calories a young child should consume each day. Although the question may seem simple enough, the answer depends on several varying factors.

Troubling Statistics

• According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, there are three times as many overweight adolescents today as there were three decades ago. Data collected in a 1999-2002 survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports that 16 percent of 6- to 19-year-olds are overweight. In addition, the weight of the heaviest has also increased over the last few decades. The NHANES survey reported that the children who were most overweight were far and away heavier than the fattest children in the 1980s.

Dangers of Childhood Obesity

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that childhood obesity greatly increases the risk of future instances of respiratory ailments, high cholesterol, depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and orthopedic difficulties. Furthermore, it reports that kids who are overweight have a 70 percent greater risk of adulthood obesity.

Causes

• Many parents believe their kids are heavy because of genetics, but the Mayo Clinic reports that although a few children are victims of specific genetic and hormonal problems, the majority of cases of childhood obesity are caused by overeating and lack of physical activity. The Mayo Clinic recommends that parents prevent their children from consuming diets chock-full of high-calorie junk foods like baked goods, fast foods, soft drinks and vending machine snacks.

How Many Calories Should a Child Consume?

• The number of calories a child should consume varies depending on the child's gender, height, age, weight and activity level. Estimations based on the Institute of Medicine's Estimated Energy Requirements recommend the following:

  Children Ages 2 to 3 Years

  Sedentary - 1,000 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day
  Active - 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day

  Boys Ages 4 to 8 Years

  Sedentary - 1,400 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day
  Active - 1,600 to 2,000 calories per day

  Girls Ages 4 to 8 Years

  Sedentary - 1,200 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day
  Active - 1,400 to 1,800 calories per day

  Boys Ages 9 to 13 Years

  Sedentary - 1,800 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 1,800 to 2,200 calories per day
  Active - 2,000 to 2,600 calories per day

  Girls Ages 9 to 13 Years

  Sedentary - 1,600 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 1,600 to 2,000 calories per day
  Active - 1,800 to 2,200 calories per day

  Boys Ages 14 to 18 Years

  Sedentary - 2,200 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 2,400 to 2,800 calories per day
  Active - 2,800 to 3,200 calories per day

  Girls Ages 14 to 18 Years

  Sedentary - 1,800 calories per day
  Moderately Active - 2,000 calories per day
  Active - 2,400 calories per day

The Bottom Line

• Although the number of calories a child consumes goes a long way toward determining how healthy a child will be, it's not the whole story. The quality of calories consumed is just as important, if not more so. The best advice for parents is to provide their children with a diet rich in vegetables and whole grains to supply them with the proper nutrition for optimal growth.