Adult Average Energy Needs per Activity Level

BMI (kg/m2)	Sex	PAL Category	n	TEE Measured (Kcal/d)	BMI Measured (kg/m2)	PAL Measured
18.5-25	Females	Sedentary	35	1,567 ± 261	22.1 ± 1.7	1.23 ± 0.11
		Low active	45	2,036 ± 252	22.1 ± 1.8	1.52 ± 0.05
		Active	87	2,303 ± 288	21.8 ± 1.7	1.74 ± 0.09
		Very active	71	2,588 ± 348	21.2 ± 1.6	2.09 ± 0.16
		Total	238	2,229 ± 447	21.7 ± 1.7	1.73 ± 0.31
18.5-25	Males	Sedentary	22	1,992 ± 263	23.0 ± 1.5	1.29 ± 0.10
		Low active	36	2,500 ± 381	22.4 ± 1.5	1.51 ± 0.05
		Active	76	2,892 ± 402	22.5 ± 1.5	1.74 ± 0.08
		Very active	35	3,338 ± 419	22.4 ± 1.6	2.06 ± 0.01
		Total	169	2,784 ± 561	22.5 ± 1.5	1.70 ± 0.25
>25	Females	Sedentary	39	1,788 ± 373	30.3 ± 5.0	1.25 ± 0.10
		Low active	43	2,205 ± 344	30.2 ± 4.3	1.52 ± 0.06
		Active	78	2,594 ± 452	31.0 ± 6.6	1.74 ± 0.08
		Very active	35	2,888 ± 347	28.9 ± 3.3	2.04 ± 0.11
		Total	195	2,400 ± 545	30.3 ± 5.3	1.65 ± 0.27
>25	Males	Sedentary	22	2,378 ± 546	30.3 ± 6.3	1.27 ± 0.09
		Low active	36	2,719 ± 544	29.7 ± 6.5	1.50 ± 0.06
		Active	76	3,142 ± 425	29.4 ± 4.1	1.73 ± 0.09
		Very active	35	3,821 ± 608	29.9 ± 4.2	2.10 ± 0.14
		Total	169	3,174 ± 727	29.7 ± 5.0	1.74 ± 0.30

PAL = physical activity level
n = sample size
TEE = total energy expenditure
BMI = body mass index
Source: Dietary Reference Intakes for Macronutrients, 2002, Table 5-13

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