Question

Alejandro is training for a half-marathon. He is now training for more than 90 minutes most days of the week. If Alejandro weighs 199 pounds, approximately how many calories per day does he need to support his energy needs and maintain his current weight?

Multiple Choice

9950 kcal per day


2500 kcal per day


4000 kcal per day


4500 kcal per day

Answer 1

To estimate Alejandro's daily caloric needs based on his weight, activity level, and training for a half-marathon, we can use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for calculating Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) along with an activity multiplier.

1. **Calculate BMR** for Alejandro:

For men, the Mifflin-St Jeor equation is:
\[
BMR = 10 \times \text{weight in kg} + 6.25 \times \text{height in cm} - 5 \times \text{age in years} + 5
\]

Alejandro weighs 199 pounds. To convert that to kilograms:
\[
199 \text{ lbs} \div 2.205 \approx 90.34 \text{ kg}
\]

However, without information on Alejandro's height and age, we'll approximate caloric needs more generally for someone weighing 199 pounds who is very active.

2. **Estimate Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)**:

For someone who is training for a half-marathon (very active), TDEE can be estimated using an activity multiplier. For an active individual, the multiplier is typically around 1.6 to 2.0.

To estimate TDEE, we’ll use the average activity multiplier (say 1.75) once we get an approximate BMR.

A rough estimate for caloric needs for active individuals is about 15-20 calories per pound. Hence, for Alejandro:

\[
199 \text{ lbs} \times (15 \text{ to } 20) = 2985 \text{ kcal to } 3980 \text{ kcal}
\]

Given this analysis, Alejandro likely needs approximately:

- **4000 kcal per day** to maintain his weight while training extensively.

Thus, the best choice from the options provided is **4000 kcal per day**.