- Low-calorie diets are primarily used for weight loss. By reducing the number of calories taken in each day, an individual will gradually lose weight. One pound is made up of 3,500 calories. By reducing one's diet by 500 calories each day, a person could lose one pound every seven days. Healthy weight management can also be obtained by following a low-calorie diet. For individuals who have slower metabolisms or don't participate in much physical activity, a diet consisting of fewer than the typical 2,000 calories per day can help maintain a healthy weight range.
- A low-calorie diet involves consuming fewer calories on a regular basis to maintain a healthy weight or to lose weight. A reduction in the number of calories taken in can result in weight loss. If the goal is healthy weight management, an initial sensible reduction in caloric intake could cause weight loss, but eventually the dieter's weight would plateau.
- A low-calorie diet can help people avoid obesity or it can help obese people lose weight. Caloric intake should be matched to the amount of calories an individual's body uses each day. For example, a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle will use fewer calories each day than a person who is physically active. A number of factors play a role in how many calories an individual's body will burn each day, including his or her basal metabolic rate, level of physical activity, muscle mass and body type.
- A low-calorie diet alone cannot ensure optimal health. A low-calorie diet primarily consisting of unhealthy fats and little protein could result in health complications, such as heart disease. A low-calorie diet works best, particularly for weight management, when combined with regular physical activity and a diet consisting of a variety of healthy foods. A low-calorie diet consisting of a selection of foods from each food group---especially dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables---is best for optimal health.
- In order to follow a low-calorie diet, a person will need to know how many calories are in the foods he or she is eating. Packaged foods have nutrition labels on the package, which provide helpful information, including the number of calories per serving and the amount of calories from fat, protein and carbohydrates. For foods that don't come in packages, a dieter should use a calorie-counting book or a reliable Internet source to keep track of caloric intake. If weight loss is the goal, a dieter should first track his or her typical caloric intake. Then the dieter can determine how many fewer calories to consume for a healthy low-calorie diet.
