If an athlete needs to lose weight for health reasons, how many calories must his or her daily diet be reduced by in order to lose 1-2 lbs per week?

If an athlete needs to lose weight for health reasons, how many calories must his or her daily diet be reduced by in order to lose 1-2 lbs per week?

• A. 500 - 1000 calories/day
• B. 100 - 300 calories/day
• C. 1500 - 2000 calories/day
• D. 2000 calories/day

Answer: (A)

The idea is to create a daily energy deficit so the body has to use stored fat for fuel. About 500 to 1000 extra calories burned or not eaten each day will produce a weekly deficit of roughly 3500 to 7000 calories, which translates to about 1 to 2 pounds of fat loss per week. This relies on the rule that roughly 3500 calories equals one pound of fat, so dividing the weekly deficit by seven gives the daily target: 500 calories per day for about 1 lb/week, or 1000 calories per day for about 2 lb/week. Remember, individual results vary with metabolism, activity level, and nutrition, so aim for a sustainable deficit that preserves lean mass and nutrient intake.

The idea is to create a daily energy deficit so the body has to use stored fat for fuel. About 500 to 1000 extra calories burned or not eaten each day will produce a weekly deficit of roughly 3500 to 7000 calories, which translates to about 1 to 2 pounds of fat loss per week. This relies on the rule that roughly 3500 calories equals one pound of fat, so dividing the weekly deficit by seven gives the daily target: 500 calories per day for about 1 lb/week, or 1000 calories per day for about 2 lb/week. Remember, individual results vary with metabolism, activity level, and nutrition, so aim for a sustainable deficit that preserves lean mass and nutrient intake.