Question

Explain the energy balance equation and three ways to balance the energy balance equation to produce weight loss

Answer 1

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. An energy balance equation would be,

Energy balance = Energy input - Energy output.

Energy input happens when we eat food, The food we consume provides calories. Calories are simply a unit of energy or heat. The food we eat and the drinks we consume provide different amounts of energy. Protein and carbohydrate each provide 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram.

Energy output happens when we burn these calories, by way of exercise or increased physical activity, even while sleeping and doing you daily activity uses up calories. The rate at which your body burns calories at rest is called your basal metabolic rate.

A positive energy balance occurs when your energy input is greater than your energy output. That is, you eat more calories than your body needs, the extra calories than are stored as fat, which ultimately results in obesity. A negative energy balance occurs when you burn more calories than you eat. How to Change Your Energy Balance to Lose Weight

1. Reduce Your Calorie Intake, Eat a variety of whole foods. Don't focus only on one or two food groups, and exclude high fatty food, and reduce you intake as such
2. Increase Your Physical Activity, walk couple of miles, do garden work, go for a bike ride, a normal sized individual can burn upto 150 calories by doing these activities for 30 mintes.
3. Combine Increased Activity and Diet Changes.