How low can my calorie recommendations go with the Nutrition Check-in?

To keep your nutrition recommendations safe, realistic, and effective, the Built With Science app considers minimum calorie targets for all users for your weekly Nutrition Check-in. These minimums ensure you never receive a calorie goal that drops below what your body needs for basic daily function.

Minimum Calorie Floors

• Females: 1200 calories per day
• Males: 1500 calories per day

The app will never recommend a target lower than these values.

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Why These Minimums Exist

1. Your body needs a baseline amount of energy

Even at rest, your body burns calories to keep you alive. This is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).
Most adults have BMRs that fall at or above:

• 1200 calories for females
• 1500 calories for males

Going below these levels can mean eating less than your body needs just to function.

2. Extremely low calories can be unsafe

Eating too little can lead to:

• slowed metabolism
• disrupted hormones
• fatigue and poor recovery
• increased hunger and cravings
• menstrual cycle irregularities in females
• loss of muscle mass

Minimum calorie floors prevent the app from recommending unsafe crash-diet levels.

3. Backed by nutrition and health guidelines

Organizations such as the NIH and the American College of Sports Medicine advise that adults should not follow diets below these calorie levels without medical supervision. Our minimums align with these standards to keep users safe.

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What this means for your plan

Most users will receive calorie targets well above these minimums. These floors only act as safety limits to ensure your plan stays sustainable and supports your training, recovery, and overall health.

If you have questions about your calorie recommendation or want help improving your tracking accuracy, feel free to reach out to our support team.