Carbohydrate recommendation for the general population is approximately how many grams per kilogram body weight?

• A. 8-12 g/kg body weight
• B. 10-35% total daily calories, 0.8 g/kg
• C. 4-5 g/kg body weight
• D. 45-65% total daily calories

Answer: (C)

Carbohydrate needs for the general population are typically expressed as grams per kilogram of body weight. A practical range is about 4–5 g per kg per day. This level provides enough energy for daily activities and typical exercise without going into the higher amounts used by endurance athletes. Other numbers in the options reflect different concepts: a protein recommendation (0.8 g/kg), a percentage of total daily calories (which doesn’t translate directly to grams per kg), or much higher carbohydrate needs (8–12 g/kg) seen in heavy endurance training. So the 4–5 g/kg range best fits the general population.