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PART D: SCIENCE BASEFigure D3-3b. Estimate of Discretionary Calories Available Based on the Level of Physical Activity for Females 31 to 50 years old. (Estimated Energy Requirements from the IOM Dietary Reference Intakes macronutrients report, 2002, are calculated by median height (1.63 m) and weight (57 kg) for that height to give a BMI of 21.5 for a typical 30 year old adult female.) The chart presents calories consumed—from 0 to 3,500 calories—on the y axis, along with bars representing men at three different activity levels (sedentary, moderately active, and active) on the x axis. Sedentary represents in dark gray the essential calories used to consume a relatively nutrient-dense food pattern to meet nutrient needs for a sedentary female and on top of the essential, in light gray, the remaining, or discretionary, calories to achieve energy balance based on the USDA food modeling system. Sedentary means a lifestyle that includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life. Moderately Active represents in dark gray the essential calories used to consume a relatively nutrient-dense food pattern to meet nutrient needs for a moderately active female and on top of the essential calories, in light gray, the remaining, or discretionary, calories to achieve energy balance based on the USDA food modeling system. Moderately active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life and results in a slight increase in essential calories for the moderately active woman. Active represents in dark gray the essential calories used to consume a relatively nutrient-dense food pattern to meet nutrient needs for an active female and on top of the essential calories, in light gray, the remaining, or discretionary, calories to achieve energy balance based on the USDA food modeling system. Active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life, and results in a slight increase in essential calories for the active woman. Back to Part D. Science Base, Section 3. Discretionary Calories |