If Jerry Seinfeld were into health and fitness he’d surely ask: “What’s up with this 12-Hour Diet? (Thanks, Dad.)”
But seriously: If you look at many popular weight loss diets, 1200 Calories is often recommended as an “ideal target” for women (whereas men typically aim for 1500).
The 1,200 Calorie Diet has become increasingly popular on Reddit, TikTok and Instagram; even Kim Kardashian reportedly followed this diet regimen!
There’s nothing remarkable about 1200 Calories per day specifically.
But all this talk of low-calorie diets may make an individual, or their coach, skeptical of them in general.
Importantly: Can an extremely low caloric target be safe and sustainable?
In this article, we’ll answer this question and more.
Why some people do not succeed with 12-Carb Diets (Hint: It has nothing to do with thyroid or metabolic adaptation.) A daily calorie target which tends to promote weight loss without unbearable cravings or deprivation.
Science-backed strategies exist that can help regulate appetite and hunger–so individuals can adhere to their food plan over the long run. But before you dive in…
What inspired the 12-Calorie Diet??
It is believed that the 12-Calorie Diet dates back to 1918 when Lulu Hunt Peters, MD published her book entitled Diet and Health with Key to Calories.
Dr. Peters writes engagingly, which may account for its lasting popularity. In 2005, it was digitally reprinted over 80 years after its initial release and well after Dr. Peters had passed on.
On its pages, for instance, you’ll encounter numerous untidy stick and circle figures along with advice to “skip this chapter as it will not hold your interest at all”.
Dr. Peters’ book provides readers with recommendations that include warning against too much animal protein consumption as it “exacerbates an already vicious disposition.” For exercise purposes, he advises them to vigorously brush their hair at least 200 double strokes all over their head in a vigorous motion – as part of this regiment for optimal mental wellbeing.
Not everything from this book has stood the test of time.)
An integrated theme of this book is encouraging its reader to consume 1200 Calories daily (the book states: “You will be surprised how little that may amount to, if food selection is done with care).
Dr. Peters’ approach, as well as that of other proponents of today’s 1200-Calorie diet plans, goes something like this:
Women generally need about 2200 Calories daily to maintain their weight, with each pound of fat containing 3,500 Calories. If you consume 1000 fewer Calories daily than you need, that will lead to weight loss of approximately two pounds a week (this mathematic fact). Unfortunately, though fat loss may appear straightforward on paper, its implementation can often prove challenging.
As a quick fact check reveals, not all women’s total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) equals 2200 Calories. A woman’s calorie needs will depend upon factors like her body size, lean mass percentage, age, dieting history and activity levels1.1
Women may experience TDEE values significantly above 2200 while others could see them much lower than that.
Simply stated, 2200 Calories is an average figure and does not apply universally.
