Nutrition Exam 2 - Chapter 7: Energy Balance

Energy balance

The state in which energy intake, in the form of food and beverages, matches the energy expended, primarily through basal metabolism and physical activity

Positive energy balance

The state in which energy intake is greater than energy expended, generally resulting in weight gain.

Negative energy balance

The state in which energy intake is less than energy expended, resulting in weight loss.

Bomb Calorimeter

An instrument used to determine the calorie content of a food.

Adaptive Thermogenesis

The ability of humans to regulate body temperature within narrow limits (thermoregulation) in response to changes in dietary patterns or environmental temperatures.

Brown adipose tissue

A specialized form of adipose (fat) tissue that produces large amounts of heat by metabolizing energy-yielding nutrients without synthesizing much useful energy for the body. The unused energy is released as heat.

Basal metabolism

The minimal amount of calories the body uses to support itself in a fasting state when resting and awake in a warm, quiet environment. It amounts to roughly 1 kcal per kilogram per hour for males and 0.9 kcal per kilogram per hour for females; these values are often referred to as basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Resting metabolism

The amount of calories the body uses when the person has not eaten in 4 hours and is resting (e.g., 15 to 30 minutes) and awake in a warm, quiet environment. It is usually slightly higher (~10%) than basal metabolism due to the more flexible testing criteria; often referred to as resting metabolic rate (RMR).

Lean body mass

Body weight minus fat storage weight equals lean body mass. This includes organs such as the brain, muscles, and liver, as well as bone and blood and other body fluids.

thermic effect of food (TEF)

The increase in metabolism that occurs during the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of energy-yielding nutrients. This typically represents 8% to 15% of calories consumed. Also called diet-induced thermogenesis.