What does energy balance describe?

• A. The relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure
• B. Calories consumed through meals
• C. Only energy expenditure
• D. Balance between rest and activity time

Answer: (A)

Energy balance is about how much energy you get from food and drink compared with how much energy your body uses for basic functions, movement, and processing that food. The best description is the relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure. When intake equals expenditure, your weight tends to stay stable; consuming more energy than you burn leads to weight gain, while burning more than you consume leads to weight loss. Energy intake comes from calories in the foods and drinks you consume, while energy expenditure includes resting metabolic rate, physical activity, and the thermic effect of food. The other options describe only a part of the picture or miss the balance between intake and use.