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Your personal nutritionist

By Mary Hartley, RD
Director of Nutrition

I am a 22 year old girl, 5'2" and 97 pounds, and I want to weigh 103 pounds. Will I gain on 1600 calories a day, which is 300 over my BMR?
Asked by anonymous on Feb 18, 2008 in Weight Maintenance

I am a 22 year old girl, 5'2" and 97 pounds, and I want to weigh 103 pounds. Will I gain on 1600 calories a day, which is 300 over my BMR?

Answer

You won't gain weight on 1600 calories a day. For your stats, the Calorie Target calculator in the Tools section says to eat about 2200 calories a day at a light activity level. Your goal weight should be at least 105 pounds because that is BMI 19 for your height. Your personal best weight might be even higher than 105 pounds.