Low-calorie diet is one of these approaches in which the calorie intake is restricted considerably below normal for an individual. However, the accepted “low” calorie intake varies between 1,200 and 1,800 calories per day, based on age, gender, activity levels and body weight reduction expectations.

The main reason for taking low calorie diet is to make calorie debt, which means consuming fewer calories and getting burned more, thus losing weight. The concept implies that as long as a person burns more calories than he/she consumes, then s/he will lose weight.

 

• In low-calorie diets there is a strong focus on eating high nutrients food like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains so as to give necessary minerals and vitamins even if there is small amount of calorie intake. High caloric low nutrition food items like sugary snacks, fried foods and sugary drinks are excluded in these diets.
  
   
• one should bear in mind that to avoid potential health risks, it is vital to embark on a low- calorie diet only after receiving proper instructions from a medical doctor or a licensed dietician. While these foods are safe to eat when taken in small quantities, excessive consumption and poor management might give rise to negative health implications including malnutrition. Furthermore, although low calorie diets can work well in term of weight reduction in short perspective, it is possible to lose weight in long term only by implementing sustainable lifestyle changes and balancing nutrition along with physical training.