Do smaller people really need less calories?

dannnniii

So when I signed up for Myfitnesspal, my goal was to maintain my weight.. im VERY small im only 4 foot 8 and weigh 88 lbs.

it told me to maintain my weight I would only be able to eat 1300 calories a day... i am NOT very active at all (desk job/drive a lot/never exercise), and i am 21 years old, so this i guess sounded right...

turns out i lost weight eating this much so i upped it to 1400... i still lost weight on that so now im at 1500...

how come bigger people than me GAIN weight at 1300 but i loose at 1400??

im so confused.. i don't want to start GAINING

AllOutof_Bubblegum

how come bigger people than me GAIN weight at 1300 but i loose at 1400??

They don't. It's impossible to gain at that kind of deficit. Sometimes water weight and bloating can make it seem like weight gain, but it's not fat.

SomeNights246

how come bigger people than me GAIN weight at 1300 but i loose at 1400??

They don't. It's impossible to gain at that kind of deficit. Sometimes water weight and bloating can make it seem like weight gain, but it's not fat.

Precisely this.

Everyone's maintenance amount will be different depending on size, activity level, gender, lifestyle, etc. I honestly don't know anyone who can maintain or gain on 1300. If someone could, I'd imagine they'd be even smaller than you, or much older and very sedentary.

I maintain on about 1800. MFP had me on 1600 at first, but I continued losing on that, so I had to adjust it until I found something that works. The trick is finding your maintenance number. If 1500 is yours, stick to it.

Sarauk2sf

In general, smaller people need less calories. However, it is not really that simple a lot of the time as it depends on factors like

- medical issues
- muscle mass
- age
- activity levels
- macro mix

Some have only a small impact, but it can all add up.

But very often, people are just not logging accurately.

rosebette

You're still pretty young and you might be more active than you think. You might want to up your activity level to "lightly active" rather than sedentary to get a higher TDEE and BMR. Some experts say the calories calculated for a sedentary person are the bare minimum to keep someone alive -- someone whose activity level is practically in a coma.

I was pretty much like you at your age. I was 5'2" and stayed around 105 eating practically everything in sight, with very little activity.

alpinehealth

I fail to see what the problem is other than you should probably make an effort to exercise.

icrushit

Metabolism & activity. Check out some interesting stuff on the former by looking up 'reverse dietting'..

mowree

At your age, your metabolism is going to burn off many of the calories you eat - no matter how inactive you are. That will change with time. I am 4'11" and I will gain weight if I eat 1300 calories a day. I'm fairly active. But I'm also 54 years old. I say enjoy it while you can ;-)

MyChocolateDiet

maybe those bigger people who gain weight at this calorie intake are not being very accurate in their measureing.

maybe they broke their metabolism by dieting too much for too long.

maybe the are drinking their calories as greyhounds and skinny girl margaritas and not logging them.

maybe they have "free foods" they allow themselves and don't log.

maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe.

it's impossible to know fully someone else's circumstances so for now just be elated you are able to lose weight with the higher cals and TAKE IT! if it ain't broke don't fix it. if it becomes broke focus on checking accuracy before switching methods.

rosebette

At your age, your metabolism is going to burn off many of the calories you eat - no matter how inactive you are. That will change with time. I am 4'11" and I will gain weight if I eat 1300 calories a day. I'm fairly active. But I'm also 54 years old. I say enjoy it while you can ;-)

This!

Graelwyn75

I am sometimes glad I am 5'10.

dnamouse

I'm 4'9, but I'm 35yo... at the moment I'm doing a slow cut (so less than 0.5lb a week). MFP gives me the magical 1200 number and every single TDEE calculator gives me about 1400-1500ish to lose that teeny little amount (the highest maintenance TDEE I can find is about 1700) lol And I work out a lot - lift 3x a week + cardio 2-3x a week.

Stupid short genes :grumble: :laugh:

That said, doing my little experimental bulk was fun... but not as fun as those who can eat more than 2000 a day :drinker:

littlekitty3

Bigger people gain on 1300 because they don't eat enough to begin with, so the body then freaks out and holds onto whatever is given to it since it thinks its in a famine.

deansdad101

Bigger people gain on 1300 because they don't eat enough to begin with, so the body then freaks out and holds onto whatever is given to it since it thinks its in a famine.

Kitty;
Thank you so much for sharing this insightful information - it REALLY helps.

Would you mind sharing the scientific clinical studies you used to arrive at your current state of knowledge?

I have an appointment with my Doc tomorrow and he's a stickler for the details so I'll need it to convince him that the only way I can lose weight is by eating more....I keep telling him it's because "my body freaks out and thinks its in a famine" but he just won't believe me without "proof"

I'm printing out your post to show him.......maybe that'll convince him (but please post the link, just in case)

very BIG THANKS in advance!!!

Graelwyn75

Bigger people gain on 1300 because they don't eat enough to begin with, so the body then freaks out and holds onto whatever is given to it since it thinks its in a famine.

Kitty;
Thank you so much for sharing this insightful information - it REALLY helps.

Would you mind sharing the scientific clinical studies you used to arrive at your current state of knowledge?

I have an appointment with my Doc tomorrow and he's a stickler for the details so I'll need it to convince him that the only way I can lose weight is by eating more....I keep telling him it's because "my body freaks out and thinks its in a famine" but he just won't believe me without "proof"

I'm printing out your post to show him.......maybe that'll convince him (but please post the link, just in case)

very BIG THANKS in advance!!!

Try this guy. He is quite well respected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHzie6XRGk&list=PLF8vFmVhJn3BUNAsDfirZWJCQopgGC15a

Violinna

Another thing could be genetics, which doesn't seem to be mentioned at all on this site. Some people gain weight easier than others based on that... and their base metabolism.

SoDamnHungry

They don't gain at 1300 unless there's some extenuating medical circumstances.

SoDamnHungry

Another thing could be genetics, which doesn't seem to be mentioned at all on this site. Some people gain weight easier than others based on that... and their base metabolism.

That's because most people are the same. If you're the same height and weight as me, your BMR is going to be very similar to mine. People are overweight because they eat too much, not because they have a slow metabolism. In fact, people who are heavier burn more calories each day because they're carrying a lot of weight around, which takes more energy. There's always a few exceptions, but the majority of people aren't overweight because they have a "slow metabolism" as they'd like to believe.

librarianjenne

Basically, focus on what works for YOU. If you're doing great on 1400 calories, then that's awesome! If you do start gaining, just cut back those calories!

BlueButterfly94

Metabolism/genetics play a major role too.

strassenkoenigin

I think you are right. I remember that in my twenties I could eat anything and not gain weight and now in my late sixties I have to watch every bite I put in my mouth and I am extremely active.

aedreana

Whereas a person's weight is generally the largest factor in determining maintenance calories, it doesn't apply 100% across-the-board. Glamour magazine said to allow 15 calories per pound per day for a person of moderate activity to maintain, 19 calories per pound per day for someone in Marine boot camp or training for the Olympics. Most of the calories we consume go toward keeping our body temperature normal. People who exercise can burn some calories while exercising, and may have a higher metabolic rate even at rest..However, a person's metabolism can be fast even if they are sedentary, and they will require more calories to maintain than the average person of their weight and activity level. I am like that. I am very sedentary; yet, every time I tried to maintain 112 on 1680 calories (I am 5' 3 1/2"), I lost weight instead. I will soon be facing the daunting problem of determining my maintenance calories, because I am near to goal, and I don't want to continue to lose weight after I reach goal. I am 61 and my metabolism has never slowed down-- yet, that is. The future may or may not hold that nasty little prospect in store for me! I have a theory that stress/worry (financial) burns calories; however, it's only a theory and not necessarily a valid explanation of why I lose weight on 1680 calories.

hl05

I'm short too, standing at 5"2, and I do feel that 1300-1500 calories is too little. I ate 1300 a day for 2 months and lost 7lbs, so I amped up the amount of calorie intake and realized that I could eat 1600 and still manage to lose weight. Heck, it was only 3 years ago I could eat a medium size pizza and not gain weight. Some people just have faster metabolisms. Also, eating the right foods really help. I also found that drinking tea such as green tea and tartary buckwheat tea (my current favourite) really helps with my metabolism and such.

Lemongrab13

I don't think MFP's calculation system is good. At all. I'm 6'3 and they advised me to eat 1600 calories, which is 200 calories below my BMR (base metabolic rate, which is how much you need to eat doing nothing at all to keep you functioning).
I'd suggest calculating your BMR and TDEE elsewhere.
Use this as a great guide http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide

jzsunshine61

Oh, you have no idea how many times I have sat across a table from one of my tall relatives and felt jealous because they can eat twice as much as I can and maintain a decently healthy weight! If I eat 1200-1300 (measured and weighed calories) I gain weight! This due to my age and hypothyroidism. I'm on my feet moving most days from dawn until dusk. I'm not much of a TV watcher. I finally have been able to lose a few pounds due to my doctor switching my medication to Armour Thyroid. It's still frustratingly slow weight loss!!! Oh, and since I had to stop eating all dairy products - I am not hungry in the least! Bragging is just not a very nice thing in this hypothyroid group.

sarafischbach9

Smaller people do need less calories, but all small people are not made the same and all small people do not live the same lifestyle. Other things that can influence maintenance calories are: activity level and lean body mass. People with more muscle burn more calories naturally. People who exercise more or have active jobs need more calories. 1300 calories seemed low for you , even at your size. I would expect you to maintain on 1500 to 1700 calories. If you begin exercising more, that can go up.

You are probably more active than you think.

sarafischbach9

Whereas a person's weight is generally the largest factor in determining maintenance calories, it doesn't apply 100% across-the-board. Glamour magazine said to allow 15 calories per pound per day for a person of moderate activity to maintain, 19 calories per pound per day for someone in Marine boot camp or training for the Olympics. Most of the calories we consume go toward keeping our body temperature normal. People who exercise can burn some calories while exercising, and may have a higher metabolic rate even at rest..However, a person's metabolism can be fast even if they are sedentary, and they will require more calories to maintain than the average person of their weight and activity level. I am like that. I am very sedentary; yet, every time I tried to maintain 112 on 1680 calories (I am 5' 3 1/2"), I lost weight instead. I will soon be facing the daunting problem of determining my maintenance calories, because I am near to goal, and I don't want to continue to lose weight after I reach goal. I am 61 and my metabolism has never slowed down-- yet, that is. The future may or may not hold that nasty little prospect in store for me! I have a theory that stress/worry (financial) burns calories; however, it's only a theory and not necessarily a valid explanation of why I lose weight on 1680 calories.

I am 5'3.5" and I lost weight too on around 1700 calories lol. I reached my goal weight and was trying to maintain and then I lost and went from 110 to 103 lbs.

ninerbuff

In general, smaller people need less calories. However, it is not really that simple a lot of the time as it depends on factors like

- medical issues
- muscle mass
- age
- activity levels
- macro mix

Some have only a small impact, but it can all add up.

But very often, people are just not logging accurately.

THIS and also adding that lots of people really AREN'T eating just 1300 calories and gaining weight. They somehow forget that little "binge" and don't record it.......................out of shame.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Meerataila

They don't gain at 1300 unless there's some extenuating medical circumstances.

I wouldn't say that's true. MFP says at my goal weight I'll have a BMR of 1,110 calories/day. If I really put effort into sitting still in my chair all day, I'll be able to gain on less than 1400.

I don't plan on doing that, though. I've spent enough time being a desk sloth!

logg1e

It's "fewer".

Fewer calories.