Calories are the currency of energy. We need them to fuel our bodies with energy for maintaining our body systems, for repairing damage from injuries and also for all physical activity we do. We get calories from our food and drinks.

When the amount of calories we burn is the same as the amount of calories we consume we are in an energy balance, we neither lose nor gain weight. When we eat more than we burn, we gain weight as excess calories are stored in the body as fat cells. Similarly, when we consume fewer calories than we burn, we lose weight. However, to make sure the weight loss is from stored body fat and not from lean muscular tissue we need to be active while we are losing weight.

Everybody has different calorie needs. Use the calculator here to estimate the amount of calories you need to consume on a daily basis just to maintain your current weight.

Below, select which measurement system you would like to use, imperial or metric.