So you miss that rocking figure that used to turn heads back in college and have convinced yourself that avoiding calories absolutely will get you your mojo back? Or perhaps you are just trying to watch your weight? Well, you may want to know the consequences of getting too little calories.

Calories are extremely important for normal body functions. If your body lacks enough energy-giving foods, it starts to burn off the energy reserves mainly situated in fat tissues underneath your skin. Lethargic feelings and fatigue are some of the immediate effects of getting too little calories. Continuous low intake of calories could lead to enormous weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration.

Even children who are inactive need some calories to enable their growth and development, so getting too little calories will not work even for this group and any other group for that matter as calories are needed to perform all body functions. Kids in particular are at risk of consuming too much junk food that may not contain the amount of calories needed for their rapid growth and play.

The secret would be to provide them with food portions with a high amount of calories and also rich in other nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. Bear in mind that these children are still growing up and getting too little calories is harmful to their growth. So maintain their calorie intake to a standard level – 900 calories and below per day will do for kids under the age of one year while ten years and below will need around 1500 calories daily. As they approach teen age they will need at least 1800 calories per day. If you are an adult concerned with just how much is too little or too much, then around 2000 to 2500 calories will do depending on your sex and level of activity.