Activity Level
Gender	Age (years)	Sedentary	Moderately Active	Active
Child	2-3	1,000	1,000-1,400	1,000-1,400
Female	4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+	1,200 1,600 1,800 2,000 1,800 1,600	1,400-1,600 1,600-2,000 2,000 2,000-2,200 2,000 1,800	1,400-1,800 1,800-2,200 2,400 2,400 2,200 2,000-2,200
Male	4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+	1,400 1,800 2,200 2,400 2,200 2,000	1,400-1,600 1,800-2,200 2,400-2,800 2,600-2,800 2,400-2,600 2,200-2,400	1,600-2,000 2,000-2,600 2,800-3,200 3,000 2,800-3,000 2,400-2,800

Sedentary- Means no extra activity and includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.
Moderately Active- Means some extra activity (walking 1.5 - 3 miles every day) in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.
Active- Means extra activity (greater than 3 miles every day) in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.

One factor that was not included in the list above was weight goal. Many people are content with their current weight, but many people want to gain or lose a few (or more) pounds. To burn one pound of body weight (some fat and a little muscle) our body uses up about 3500 calories. So to lose one pound of body weight we need to reduce (through eating less) and burn (through physical activity) 3500 calories. This can be done over several days, weeks or months.

The most healthful rate at which to lose weight is to remove about 500 calories each day using a combination of eating less and physical activity. Since there are seven days in a week, removing 500 calories each day will result in a 3500 calories deficit, or one pound a week in weight loss. Some people are eager to lose weight more quickly, but it is not recommended that people lose more than two pounds each week; losing weight to quickly is unstable and results in rebound weight gain.