Achieving Optimal Energy Balance for Health

Energy balance pertains to maintaining equilibrium between energy intake and expenditure.
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Nutrition | Fitness | Energy Management | Energy Equilibrium | Caloric Balance | Energy Stability
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Dr. Helena Rodriguez

Energy Balance FAQ


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What is energy balance?

“Energy balance” is the relationship between “energy in” (food calories taken into the body through food and drink) and “energy out” (calories being used in the body for our daily energy requirements). This relationship, which is defined by the laws of thermodynamics, dictates whether weight is lost, gained, or remains the same.

What is energy balance & why is it important?

There’s a lot more to energy balance than a change in body weight. Energy balance also has to do with what’s going on in your cells. When you’re in a positive energy balance (more in than out) and when you’re in a negative energy balance (more out than in), everything from your metabolism, to your hormonal balance, to your mood is impacted.

What is energy balance physiology?

To maintain a stable bodyweight, energy intake must, over time, exactly equal energy expenditure, a state known as energy balance. An understanding of the physiologic control of energy balance may be useful for designing interventions to tackle the obesity epidemic worldwide.

How do I calculate my energy balance?

You should calculate your energy balance if you want to lose weight. This equation provides a starting point for your entire weight loss program. Energy balance equation: calories in (energy input) - calories out (energy output) Once you have your energy balance figured out, take a look at the result.

What is a positive energy balance?

A positive energy balance occurs when your energy input is greater than your energy output. That is, you eat more calories than your body uses. Your body stores excess energy or calories as fat. This results in weight gain. Weight loss occurs when you create a negative energy balance. That is, you burn more calories than you consume.

How does energy balance work in real life?

Here's another way of looking at energy balance in real life. Eating just 150 calories more a day than you burn can lead to an extra 5 pounds over 6 months. That’s a gain of 10 pounds a year. If you don't want this weight gain to happen, or you want to lose the extra weight, you can either reduce your ENERGY IN or increase your ENERGY OUT.

Energy Balance References

If you want to know more about Energy Balance, consider exploring links below:

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