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How are you doing on fat?

These days, everyone is talking about the importance of cutting back on fat. Surveys show that we're eating less fat than we used to, but we still are getting about 34 percent of our calories from fat. That's more than the 30 percent of our calories that should come from fat.

The number of calories you need each day varies depending on your body size and activity levels. But someone who needs about 2,000 calories a day should be eating no more than 65 grams of fat a day on average.

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Guide to determining dietary fat

Select the appropriate choices below to determine how much fat you should eat every day.

1. Select your body weight:
Under 80 lbs. 80-100 lbs. 100-120 lbs. 120-140 lbs. 140-160 lbs. 160-180 lbs. 180-200 lbs. 200-220 lbs. Above 220 lbs.


2. How often do you exercise?
1 to 3 times a week 3 to 5 times a week 5 to 7 times a week Almost never

3. Select your age:
Under 10 years 10-15 years 15-20 years 20-30 years 30-40 years 40-50 years 50-60 years 60-70 years 70-80 years Above 80 years

4. You should eat no more than grams of fat per day. That equals calories per day.


You can use the information food labels to keep track of the fat you eat each day. By planning you meals in advance and balancing higher fat choices with lower fat ones, you can keep your day's total at the recommended 30 percent of calories or less from fat. Use the Nutrition Facts Section of the food label to compare the fat content of products before you buy foods. Compare serving sizes when comparing total fat content.

Action List for Fat | Dietary Guidelines | For More Info