Identification

• Reduced caloric intake is a dieting approach that involves cutting the consumption of calories to a low level. General caloric needs are found by multiplying weight by ten. The resulting number is the amount of calories needed to maintain current weight. Reducing caloric intake by ten to thirty percent from the weight maintenance number results in weight loss.
  
  

Considerations

• Keeping track of calories involves a lot of time at first. Writing down calories from all foods, calculating how many servings and computing the resulting caloric intake are all important when counting calories. Having an accurate and exact log of calories is imperative to ensure the number of calories is correct. Estimating and rounding lead to overeating, which leads to weight gain.
  
  

Benefits

• The main benefit from reduced caloric intake is weight loss. Reduced weight decreases the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, reproductive problems, gallstones and high blood pressure. It also lowers the risk of certain cancers, including colon, gallbladder, endometrial and breast cancers. If the diet is nutritionally balanced, reduced caloric intake has several other benefits that include an improved immune system, better thyroid function and improved cardiovascular health. Dieters who count calories and commit to a reduced-calorie diet are more likely to sustain their weight loss than those who use alternative dieting methods.
  
  

Warning

• See a doctor before beginning a diet to evaluate any possible health risks. It is especially important to speak with a doctor if any current medical conditions exist, including type 2 diabetes or severe obesity. Reducing caloric intake gradually helps avoid extreme hunger. Mood swings and irritability result from cutting too many calories too fast, and keep in mind that consuming fewer than 1,000 calories a day results in a slower metabolism, and therefore is not good for weight loss.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Many believe that a reduced calorie diet involves avoiding certain foods. However, when reducing caloric intake, dieters can eat almost anything as long as it keeps them within the predetermined calorie range. Dieters should focus on eating healthy, but the occasional dessert is fine as long as it's within the calorie range.