1. All women need to eat 2000 calories a day
False. This is the amount given for the average woman, but it depends on age, activity levels, and whether you are currently overweight or underweight.
2. Calories and kilocalories are the same
True. It sounds confusing but calories is short for kilocalories. For example when you see ‘100kcal’ written on a packet, this is the same as 100 calories.
3. Calories means fat
False. Calories tell you how much energy is in food, including energy from carbs and protein as well as fat. However, excess energy that’s not burned is stored as fat.
4. Only exercise burns calories
False. If you were never to leave your bed your body would still burn calories completing functions like breathing. But exercise burns extra calories to keep you trim.
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