
Energy Balance = energy intake – energy expenditure When an individual is in energy balance, energy intake equals energy expenditure, and weight should remain stable. Positive energy balance occurs when energy intake is greater than energy expenditure, usually resulting in weight gain. Negative energy balance
What is energy balance in weight control?
In weight control, the "balancing act" means taking in only as much food and drink as you need to fuel your body's basic functions, the activities of daily living, and exercise. The number of calories needed for energy balance is highly individual, and it changes from day to day depending on your activity level.
What is meant by balance food and activity?
Balance Food and Activity. What is Energy Balance? Energy is another word for "calories.". Your energy balance is the balance of calories consumed through eating and drinking compared to calories burned through physical activity. What you eat and drink is ENERGY IN.
What is energy balance and why is it important?
“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,...
What is the balancing act in weight control?
You're probably familiar with the balancing act of juggling career, family, friends, community, and personal needs. In weight control, the "balancing act" means taking in only as much food and drink as you need to fuel your body's basic functions, the activities of daily living, and exercise.

What is the energy balance theory?
Abstract. Energy metabolism theory affirms that body weight stability is achieved as over time the average energy intake equals the average energy expenditure, a state known as energy balance.
What is the energy balance model of obesity?
The energy balance model of obesity posits that body weight is regulated by the brain in response to external signals from the food environment that are integrated with internal signals to control food intake below our conscious awareness.
What is the role of energy balance in maintaining a healthy weight?
Maintaining the same amount of energy that goes into our bodies and that goes out when our bodies use it allows us to maintain a healthy weight. Weight gain results when there is more energy coming into our bodies through the calories in our food and drink than is going out of our bodies when we are active.
What is energy balance and why is it important?
Energy balance is the concept that helps us understand how humans gain, lose, and maintain weight. It is based on one of the core concepts in physics, specifically, the concept of the law of conservation of energy. The law of conservation of energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system.
How energy balance affects weight management?
A positive energy balance, in which energy intake exceeds expenditure causes weight gain, with 60–80 % of the resulting weight gain being attributable to body fat. In negative energy balance, when energy expenditure exceeds intake, the resulting loss in body mass is also accounted for by 60–80 % body fat.
What is the best approach to weight loss?
One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as brisk walking — for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Some people may require more physical activity than this to lose weight and maintain that weight loss. Any extra movement helps burn calories.
What is the energy balance you need to maintain in order to lose weight?
For best results you want a negative energy balance of 500-1000 calories per day to lose 1-2 pounds per week.
What would be the best way to keep the energy balance to lose weight?
7 Tips for Achieving Energy BalanceReshape your plate. ... Fill the other third of the plate with lean meats and poultry, fish (especially fatty fish like tuna or salmon), or low-fat dairy.Make sure your portions are under control. ... Schedule your exercise first thing in the morning so it won't get crowded out of your day.More items...
What factors affect energy balance?
Physical activity amounts to about 20 to 30 percent of the body's total energy output. Energy expended during physical activity varies with the level and duration of the activity. It is also affected by the age, gender, height, and weight of the individual performing the activity.
Why is it called energy balance?
The earth-atmosphere energy balance is achieved as the energy received from the Sun balances the energy lost by the Earth back into space. In this way, the Earth maintains a stable average temperature and therefore a stable climate.
Is energy balance a simple concept?
The concept of energy balance seems simple on paper. Balance the calories you consume with the calories you expend. But many factors play a role in energy intake and energy expenditure.
What are the components of energy balance?
The basic components of energy balance include energy intake, energy expenditure, and energy storage. Body weight can change only when energy intake is not equal to energy expenditure over a given period of time. Humans take in energy in the form of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and alcohol.
What are the components of energy balance?
The basic components of energy balance include energy intake, energy expenditure, and energy storage. Body weight can change only when energy intake is not equal to energy expenditure over a given period of time. Humans take in energy in the form of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and alcohol.
How does obesity affect energy levels?
Obesity increases your risk of depression, which increases your risk for fatigue and EDS. Excess weight may influence hormone production, which can decrease energy levels. Obesity increases your risk of joint pain and arthritis, which can interfere with sleep.
What is the carbohydrate insulin model of obesity?
The carbohydrate-insulin model suggests that people gain weight when they consume excessive amounts of processed carbohydrates, which in turn causes insulin levels to rise and results in the body storing fat.
What is positive and negative energy balance?
Positive energy balance occurs when energy intake is greater than energy expenditure, usually resulting in weight gain. Negative energy balance is when energy intake is less than energy expenditure, usually resulting in weight loss.
What is the balancing act of weight control?
In weight control, the "balancing act" means taking in only as much food and drink as you need to fuel your body's basic functions, the activities of daily living, and exercise. The number of calories needed for energy balance is ...
What does energy balance mean?
What do you think of when you hear the term 'energy balance' -- maybe a skateboard stunt or a yoga pose? What it really means, at least in the health care community, is the art of consuming just the right number of calories to manage your weight.
How to balance energy?
Here are some more tips for striking the right energy balance: Reshape your plate. Increase the proportion of vegetables, salads, fruits, beans, and whole grains to cover two-thirds of your plate. Fill the other third of the plate with lean meats and poultry, fish (especially fatty fish like tuna or salmon), or low-fat dairy.
How to know if you are in energy balance?
Weighing in once weekly (or even more often) is the easiest method to determine whether you're in energy balance. If you take in more calories than you burn, they will likely show up as weight gained, while creating a calorie deficit sends the needle on the scale counterclockwise.
How to quench thirst after workout?
Try good old-fashioned water to quench your thirst before and after your workouts. If you don't exercise each day, eat a little more on the days you work out and less on days you are less active. Some people complain they eat more on those less active days simply because of boredom.
Why do we need more calories?
Exercise also builds muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you need simply to maintain your basal metabolism (the number of calories required for digestion, breathing, blood circulation, and other body processes while you're at rest). Of course, energy balance is not the only benefit of regular exercise.
How to avoid unconscious overeating?
Keep track of what you eat in a food journal to avoid unconscious overeating.
What is the energy balance?
Let’s sum it up. Energ y balance: when energy intake is equal to energy expenditure resulting in no change in weight. Sometime there are needs for higher calorie consumption. Balance is important for intake and expenditure and food choices. The three macronutrients are CHO, protein and fat. And the AMDR provides the recommended ranges.
What is negative energy balance?
Negative energy balance is the opposite. When things get tilted the other way and expenditure exceeds intake and can result in weight loss. There are times when there is a need for higher calorie consumption. One example is undesired weight loss, outside of a disease.
Why is balance important?
A balance of intake and expenditure allows people to maintain a healthy weight and also have enough energy to go about their lives. Balance also plays a role with macronutrients.
What is the thermodynamic effect of food?
Thermic Effect of Food or TEF is the energy used in digesting, absorbing and metabolizing food. So part of those calories in the food we consume is used by the body to process it. So what is energy balance? When energy intake is equal to energy expenditure, weight is maintained.
Does a pregnant woman need to increase calories?
A significant increase in exercise, such as starting a new exercise program or even making big changes to a current one. If losing weight isn’t a goal, they may need to increase their calories.
Do you need to increase calories to lose weight?
If losing weight isn’t a goal, they may need to increase their calories. Also, certain disease conditions can require a higher number of calories. If the disease has them in a catabolic state and losing weight (such as cancer), they will require more calories and nutrients.
What Could You Learn From This Article?
This short article intends to give you a foundational understanding of weight/body composition for our "Understanding the Basics of Weight Management Series."
What is Weight Gain?
Weight gain is the increase in mass, specifically adipose tissue, more commonly known as body fat.
The 5 Main Health Implications Caused by Excessive Weight Gains
When you gain too much weight, you become classified as clinically obese, putting you at risk for many illnesses.
Why Do We Gain Weight?
Calories are a unit of energy; that's why we refer to eating as 'energy input' and 'energy output.'
Weight maintenance
Let's say the example individual eats 2500 calories but burns 500 calories from activities. Remember that his metabolic rate sat around 2000 calories?
Final Message
The reason for weight gain in 'healthy' individuals is a caloric surplus, vice versa. Excessive weight gain can negatively impact our health, so I cannot stress the importance of weight management.
How does lifestyle affect energy balance?
Overall lifestyle habits help to properly control energy balance, and when properly controlled, excessive swings in either direction (positive or negative) are prevented and the body can either lose fat or gain lean mass in a healthy way.
How to get a skewed energy balance?
Incorporate additional omega-3 fats. Take advantage of peri-workout nutrition, with plenty of nutrients consumed before, during, and after exercise. Sleep 7-9 hours per night. Stay consistent with habits. Remember that a skewed energy balance is not something that needs to be achieved from now until the end of time.
What happens when you have a negative energy balance?
A severe negative energy balance can lead to a decline in metabolism, decreases in bone mass, reductions in thyroid hormones, reductions in testosterone levels , an inability to concentrate , and a reduction in physical performance .
What is the difference between positive and negative energy balance?
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.
Why is the body adaptable?
The body is highly adaptable to a variety of energy intakes/outputs. It must be adaptable in order to survive. Therefore, mechanisms are in place to ensure stable energy transfer regardless of whether energy imbalances exist. The trouble with long-term positive energy balance (click to enlarge)
What level of certification is Precision Nutrition?
If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification .
Which relationship dictates whether weight is lost, gained, or remains the same?
This relationship, which is defined by the laws of thermodynamics, dictates whether weight is lost, gained, or remains the same.

What Is Energy Balance?
- Energy is another word for "calories." Your energy balance is the balance of calories consumed through eating and drinking compared to calories burned through physical activity. What you eat and drink is ENERGY IN. What you burn through physical activity is ENERGY OUT. You burn a certain number of calories just by breathing air and digesting food. ...
Estimated Calorie Requirements
- This calorie requirement chart presents estimated amounts of calories needed to maintain energy balance (and a healthy body weight) for various gender and age groups at three different levels of physical activity. The estimates are rounded to the nearest 200 calories and were determined using an equation from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Source: HHS/USDA Dietary Guidelines f…
Energy Balance in Real Life
- Think of it as balancing your "lifestyle budget." For example, if you know you and your family will be going to a party and may eat more high-calorie foods than normal, then you may wish to eat fewer calories for a few days before so that it balances out. Or, you can increase your physical activity level for the few days before or after the party, so that you can burn off the extra energy. …