Does the 2000 calorie daily recommendation account for the prevalence of obesity?

Almost everyone would swiftly lose weight with this daily allowance, even with a sedentary lifestyle. Almost everyone also eats well above this amount anyway.

So, does the recommendation deliberately factor in what in many cases would be a huge caloric deficit in an endeavor to combat the obesity epidemic, or is it a sincere generalized estimation of what would be a break-even amount, accounting for females, the elderly, the inactive, etc.? After all, physical activity is also recommended, so one would assume that it is already implicitly relevant to dietary recommendations as well.

Thoughts?

Isn’t it something to see home videos of people back in the 60s, 70s and 80s as compared to the screen generations of today?

A lot has changed.

Food portions and food preparation has certainly changed.
Activity level has certainly changed
PE requirements in schools have changed
Even the food pyramid has changed

The daily calorie recommendation is irrelevant to obesity since outside of this forum the vast majority of people don’t track calories at all or have any idea of what their intake is. Even people who do the various fad diets generally don’t count calories.

I personally don’t track calories and have no accurate idea what my intake is, other than a logical range via assumption. I adjust to eating “more”, “less” or “about the same” based on the mirror.

It’s a pretty fair amount for the average adult who doesn’t exercise. Like leaner side, low muscle mass.

Like my brother 5’8 145ish doesn’t look super skinny but low muscle mass and doesn’t exercise. He eats about that much

About the time you were making that post, I was having a conversation with a tenant of mine. He had lost about 70 pounds and his blood pressure was super low. He went to see a doctor because he didn't feel well. He is an electrician in a refinery, he's constantly on the move climbing ladders and walking around carrying heavy loads 60 hours a week. Doctor said he was undernourished with his 2000 cal a day diet. Doctor told him to eat 5000 cals a day and gave him T injections. He started feeling better.

It's a ballpark estimate for people who don't know where the ballpark is.

[QUOTE=TolerantLactose;1654742173]It's a ballpark estimate for people who don't know where the ballpark is.[/QUOTE]also it’s a good goal for most women vs men, who I would guess make up 75% or more of the population that diets

[QUOTE=snailsrus;1654737443]It’s a pretty fair amount for the average adult who doesn’t exercise. Like leaner side, low muscle mass.

Like my brother 5’8 145ish doesn’t look super skinny but low muscle mass and doesn’t exercise. He eats about that much[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=snailsrus;1654742353]also it’s a good goal for most women vs men, who I would guess make up 75% or more of the population that diets[/QUOTE]
Yea, actually the 2k per day recommendation is for women. For men, it's 2.5k.

[QUOTE=Strawng;1654742533]Yea, actually the 2k per day recommendation is for women. For men, it's 2.5k.[/QUOTE]

This. 2000 would be crazy low for a typical adult male, even a sedentary one.

...come to think of it, sedentary is probably typical lol

[QUOTE=EiFit91;1654744433]This. 2000 would be crazy low for a typical adult male, even a sedentary one.

...come to think of it, sedentary is probably typical lol[/QUOTE]

Well that's my point above, if OP who is into fitness and nutrition has no idea what the recommended daily intake is, I guarantee you the average person doesn't either. They could make it 10,000 cals and it would have no impact on obesity or what the average person eats every day.

according to the FDA: [url]https://www.fda.gov/media/112972/download[/url]

[QUOTE=air2fakie;1654736293]The daily calorie recommendation is irrelevant to obesity since outside of this forum the vast majority of people don’t track calories at all or have any idea of what their intake is. Even people who do the various fad diets generally don’t count calories.

I personally don’t track calories and have no accurate idea what my intake is, other than a logical range via assumption. I adjust to eating “more”, “less” or “about the same” based on the mirror.[/QUOTE]

I keep track of my protein and body fat levels and the middle takes care of itself through more or less appetite.

[QUOTE=GeneralSerpant;1654759603]I keep track of my protein and body fat levels and the middle takes care of itself through more or less appetite.[/QUOTE]

Yeah protein is the only thing I track but even that's just a rough mental estimate to make sure I'm getting a minimum amount. Which isn't hard to reach with normal eating plus some shakes.

I remember someone had a sig that said something along the lines of how when McDonalds first opened, the amount of food they marketed/sold to the average adult is now called a happy meal targeted at toddlers.

Nice to see so many people no longer being so hyper vigilant about tracking calories and macros

soniamproud.jpeg

[QUOTE=air2fakie;1654744953]Well that's my point above, if OP who is into fitness and nutrition has no idea what the recommended daily intake is, I guarantee you the average person doesn't either. They could make it 10,000 cals and it would have no impact on obesity or what the average person eats every day.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. Everyone I know who struggles with their weight has absolutely no idea what they are putting into their mouth. Many think it's because of their "low metabolism". They also don't want to listen if you tell them it's all CICO. Used to be that guy myself so not entitled to sit on a high horse. I think it mostly comes down to not lying to yourself and so many people do that.

You're lucky to not have to track calories though. If I don't do that I'll gain a lot of weight fast no question and end up having to cut way too often!

I barely use the food scale anymore but I still need to keep track of what I am eating.

The original FDA recommendations were based off of studies on developing countries. The individuality of the US varies greatly and diet is no exception.

[QUOTE=AdamWW;1654768913]Nice to see so many people no longer being so hyper vigilant about tracking calories and macros

soniamproud.jpeg[/QUOTE]

Maybe they are being hypervigilant about NOT tracking their calories and macros. A new issue called unorthorexia.

[QUOTE=air2fakie;1654761643]Yeah protein is the only thing I track but even that's just a rough mental estimate to make sure I'm getting a minimum amount. Which isn't hard to reach with normal eating plus some shakes.[/QUOTE]

I just have 1-2 ready-to-drinks that have a few grams of fat and a few grams of sugar for taste. They usually have a modest list of vitamins/minerals on it too which is good because I get lazy with multivitamins and creatine right now.

[QUOTE=AdamWW;1654768913]Nice to see so many people no longer being so hyper vigilant about tracking calories and macros

soniamproud.jpeg[/QUOTE]

I think the appetite is more a product of how much work you're doing, and it's more reflected on your concurrent physical condition, or some sort of set point if you will.

maybe global warming is affecting how many calories we all need. Back when it was colder globally, humans burned more calories to keep warm during everyday activities.

[QUOTE=EiFit91;1654769163]You're lucky to not have to track calories though. If I don't do that I'll gain a lot of weight fast no question and end up having to cut way too often!

I barely use the food scale anymore but I still need to keep track of what I am eating.[/QUOTE]

I eat similar-ish amounts of food categories for meals... meat-fish or plant crap, starch, veggies... so it's not that hard. Plus I don't freak out if I stuff my face at a family or group meal.

[QUOTE=GeneralSerpant;1654781263]I just have 1-2 ready-to-drinks that have a few grams of fat and a few grams of sugar for taste. They usually have a modest list of vitamins/minerals on it too which is good because I get lazy with multivitamins and creatine right now.[/QUOTE]

I like Ensure Protein Max - 30g protein, 150 cals, 100mg caffeine, vits-mins - when I'm on the go and can't make a shake, in case you ever want to try it.

[QUOTE=desslok;1654777083]Maybe they are being hypervigilant about NOT tracking their calories and macros. A new issue called unorthorexia.[/QUOTE]

I like that idea.

From now on, I will also train with [I][B]re[/B][/I]gressive [B][I]under[/I][/B]load.

From here: [url]https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/[/url] (Appendix 2 in the guidelines):

"The total number of calories a person needs each day varies depending on the person’s age, sex, height, weight, and level of physical activity. In addition, a need to lose, maintain, or gain weight, and other factors affect how many calories should be consumed. Estimated amounts of calories needed to maintain energy balance for various age and sex groups at three different levels of physical activity are provided in Table A2-1 for toddlers ages 12 through 23 months and Table A2-2 for ages 2 and older. These estimates are based on the Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) equations, using reference heights (average) and reference weights (healthy) for each age-sex group. For toddlers, children, and adolescents, reference height and weight vary by age. For adults, the reference man is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds. The reference woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 126 pounds."

The 2000 calorie diet is for average height people, 5'7", average of men and women, and makes short women fat.

It was around before obesity.

2000 cals a day is 500 over maintenance for people that hardly move all day. i bet most people take less than a 1000 steps a day.

[QUOTE=fishnbrah;1654814733]2000 cals a day is 500 over maintenance for people that hardly move all day. i bet most people take less than a 1000 steps a day.[/QUOTE]

Average steps per day is ~5000

And no, most people’s BMR alone is over 1500… so… also wrong.

[QUOTE=Darkius;1654814483]The 2000 calorie diet is for average height people, 5'7", average of men and women, and makes short women fat.

It was around before obesity.[/QUOTE]

You seem smart. Please, stop being so smart.

[QUOTE=Darkius;1654814483]The 2000 calorie diet is for average height people, 5'7", average of men and women, and makes short women fat.

It was around before obesity.[/QUOTE]

I spoke to some historians who informed me that ancient hieroglyphics suggest that obesity existed prior to the 2000 calorie diet.

[QUOTE=air2fakie;1654817913]I spoke to some historians who informed me that ancient hieroglyphics suggest that obesity existed prior to the 2000 calorie diet.[/QUOTE]

Venus of Willendorf is 25,000 years ago. I think that might be a little before the FDA?

[img]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf#/media/File%3AVenus_von_Willendorf_01.jpg[/img]

It's not a constant like our body temperature. That much I know.