Final answer:
True, inactive individuals need fewer calories in their diet compared to active ones due to lower energy demands. Factors such as metabolism, food types, and physical activity play a crucial role in determining an individual's caloric needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Someone inactive indeed requires less in their diet than someone active. Inactivity, along with factors like genetics, metabolism, and your body's set point, influences dietary needs. For someone with a sedentary lifestyle, even a small caloric intake such as 1,300 kcal may suffice, while an active individual may require as much as 3,000 kcal to meet their daily energy needs. This difference in required energy intake corresponds to approximately 54 to 125 Watts of power over 24 hours; considering power is the rate of energy consumption over time.
Factors such as metabolism, type of food ingested, and body temperature regulation due to weather conditions impact an individual's dietary needs. Processed carbohydrates require less energy to metabolize than proteins. Regular exercise not only increases immediate caloric demands but also boosts metabolic rate over time, whereas prolonged dieting can reduce it.
Thus, inactive individuals will have lower caloric requirements to maintain their weight compared to active individuals. Proper management of caloric intake is essential, as excess calories are stored as fat while consuming fewer calories than needed can lead to depletion of energy stores.