6 Energy Balance Free Online FlashCards

What does energy balance describe?

Energy balance is the long-term relationship between energy obtained from food and beverages and the energy the body uses or stores.

What counts as energy intake?

Energy intake is energy from foods and beverages that is digested, absorbed, and available to the body.

What are the three main components of total energy expenditure?

Total energy expenditure includes resting energy expenditure, physical activity expenditure, and the thermic effect of food.

What is resting energy expenditure?

Resting energy expenditure (REE) supports essential functions such as breathing, circulation, and maintaining body temperature. It is generally the largest component of total energy expenditure.

What activities contribute to physical activity expenditure?

It includes planned exercise and everyday movement, such as walking, standing, household tasks, and fidgeting.

What is the thermic effect of food?

The thermic effect of food (TEF) is energy used to digest, absorb, transport, and process nutrients. It varies with meal size and composition.

How does lean tissue compare with fat tissue at rest?

Lean tissue is more metabolically active at rest than fat tissue, so body composition affects resting energy needs.

What factors can influence a person's energy needs?

Needs vary with body size and composition, age and growth, activity, individual biology, life stage, health, and environmental conditions.

What is the basic energy-balance relationship?

Change in body energy stores = energy intake − energy expenditure.

What tends to happen with a persistent energy surplus?

When intake persistently exceeds expenditure, surplus energy is stored in body tissues and weight tends to increase.

What tends to happen with a persistent energy deficit?

When expenditure persistently exceeds intake, the body draws on stored energy and weight tends to decrease.

When can positive energy balance be expected?

Positive energy balance is expected during childhood growth and typically occurs during pregnancy as the body supports new tissue.