
The ketogenic diet is a popular weight-loss method that involves reducing carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams per day. While there is no one standard ketogenic diet, the general recommendation is to derive 70-80% of daily calories from fat, 5-10% from carbohydrates, and 10-20% from protein. For those looking to lose weight, it is recommended to consume 500 fewer calories than usual per day. The Atkins 20 Diet, a well-known ketogenic diet, suggests that women consume 1,500 to 1,800 calories daily, while men consume 1,800 to 2,200. However, some very low-calorie ketogenic diets recommend an intake of less than 800 calories per day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1,500 to 2,200 |
| Carbohydrates | 5-10% of total calories |
| Protein | 10-20% of total calories |
| Fat | 70-80% of total calories |
| Weight loss | 500 calories less than your current diet |
| Gender | Women: 1,600 to 2,400 calories; Men: 2,000 to 3,000 calories |
| Age | Younger people need more calories |
| Activity level | More active people need more calories |
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What You'll Learn
- The Atkins 20 Diet recommends women consume 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, and men consume 1,800 to 2,200
- The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day
- The more active and younger you are, the more calories you need to maintain your weight
- The protein amount on the ketogenic diet is kept moderate in comparison with other low-carb high-protein diets, as eating too much protein can prevent ketosis
- A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterised by less than 800 calories a day

The Atkins 20 Diet recommends women consume 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, and men consume 1,800 to 2,200
The Atkins 20 Diet is one of the most well-known ketogenic diets. It recommends that women consume 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, and men consume 1,800 to 2,200. This is in line with general guidelines for weight maintenance, which suggest that females need to eat 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily, and males 2,000 to 3,000. However, these figures can vary depending on age and activity levels, with younger, more active people requiring more calories to maintain their weight.
Ketogenic diets do not usually give rules for calories, but they may give suggestions. The ketogenic diet typically involves reducing total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day, and can be as low as 20 grams. Popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein.
For those wanting to lose weight, it is recommended to cut out 500 calories a day from your current diet to lose about a pound a week. Very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD) are characterised by a daily intake of less than 800 calories, less than 50 grams of carbohydrates, and 1-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight. This type of diet has been shown to induce significant weight loss and improve lipid parameters, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day
There is no one "standard" ketogenic diet, and ketogenic diets generally don't give rules for calories. However, they do tend to reduce total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day, and this can be as low as 20 grams.
The Atkins 20 Diet, one of the most well-known ketogenic diets, recommends that women aim for 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, while men aim for 1,800 to 2,200. This is in line with general guidelines for weight maintenance, which suggest that females need to eat about 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily, while males may need 2,000 to 3,000.
The more active and younger you are, the more calories you need to maintain your weight. However, if you want to lose weight, you will need to consume less than you're already eating. Experts generally recommend cutting out 500 calories a day from your current diet to lose about a pound a week.
Popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this means about 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of protein. The protein amount is kept moderate in comparison with other low-carb high-protein diets because eating too much protein can prevent ketosis.
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The more active and younger you are, the more calories you need to maintain your weight
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how many calories you should consume on a ketogenic diet. The number of calories you need to maintain your weight depends on a variety of factors, including your age, gender, and activity level.
Females generally need to eat about 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily to maintain their weight, while males may need 2,000 to 3,000. The more active and younger you are, the more calories you will need to consume to maintain your weight. For example, if you are a young, active male, you will likely need to consume closer to 3,000 calories per day to maintain your weight. On the other hand, if you are an older, less active female, you may only need around 1,600 calories per day.
The ketogenic diet typically involves reducing your total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams per day, and can be as low as 20 grams. Popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this would translate to about 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of protein.
It's important to note that the protein amount on a ketogenic diet is kept moderate compared to other low-carb high-protein diets because consuming too much protein can prevent ketosis. Additionally, while ketogenic diets generally don't give rules for calories, they might give suggestions. For example, the Atkins 20 Diet recommends that women aim for 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, while men aim for 1,800 to 2,200.
Overall, the number of calories you need to consume on a ketogenic diet to maintain your weight will depend on your individual circumstances, including your age, gender, and activity level.
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The protein amount on the ketogenic diet is kept moderate in comparison with other low-carb high-protein diets, as eating too much protein can prevent ketosis
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that generally doesn't give rules for calories, although it might give suggestions. For example, the Atkins 20 Diet recommends that women aim for 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, while men aim for 1,800 to 2,200.
The protein amount on the ketogenic diet is kept moderate in comparison with other low-carb high-protein diets. This is because eating too much protein can prevent ketosis. The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day, and can be as low as 20 grams a day. Popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this translates to about 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of protein.
The amount of calories you should consume on a ketogenic diet depends on your age, gender, and activity level. Females generally need to eat about 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily to maintain their weight, while males may need 2,000 to 3,000 calories. The more active and younger you are, the more calories you need to maintain your current weight.
A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterised by a low daily caloric intake of less than 800 calories per day. This type of diet has been shown to induce significant weight loss and improve lipid parameters, blood pressure, glycaemic indices, and insulin sensitivity in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterised by less than 800 calories a day
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how many calories you should consume on a ketogenic diet, as it will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, and activity levels. However, a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterised by less than 800 calories a day and can induce significant weight loss.
The ketogenic diet typically involves reducing total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day, which is less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel. Popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein. For a 2000-calorie diet, this would translate to about 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of protein.
It's important to note that the protein amount on a ketogenic diet is kept moderate in comparison to other low-carb high-protein diets because consuming too much protein can prevent ketosis. Additionally, while ketogenic diets generally don't give rules for calories, they might offer suggestions. For example, the Atkins 20 Diet, one of the most well-known ketogenic diets, recommends that women aim for 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, while men aim for 1,800 to 2,200.
To maintain a healthy weight, females generally need to eat about 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily, while males may need 2,000 to 3,000. More active and younger individuals will require more calories to maintain their weight.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the number of calories you should consume on a keto diet depends on various factors, including your age, gender, and activity level. However, as a general guideline, females typically need to consume about 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day to maintain their weight, while males may require 2,000 to 3,000 calories. Keep in mind that if you're more active or younger, you'll likely need more calories to maintain your weight.
Yes, if weight loss is your goal, you'll generally need to consume fewer calories than you're currently eating. A safe and sustainable rate of weight loss is typically achieved by reducing your calorie intake by 500 calories per day, resulting in a loss of about one pound per week. Additionally, some keto diets, like the Atkins 20 Diet, recommend specific calorie ranges. For women, this diet suggests 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day, while men are advised to aim for 1,800 to 2,200 calories.
The keto diet doesn't specify a standard ratio of macronutrients, but it typically involves reducing carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams per day, and sometimes as low as 20 grams. Popular keto resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat, 5-10% carbohydrates, and 10-20% protein of your total daily calories. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this equates to approximately 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 75 grams of protein.
Yes, a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterised by a daily caloric intake of less than 800 calories, along with low carbohydrate intake (50 grams) and moderate protein content. This type of diet has been studied for its potential benefits in treating certain health conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.











































