CHAPTER 7

ENERGY AND ENERGY

BALANCE
 INTRODUCTION
The body's most basic need is oxygen; next are water and food. To
obtain the potential energy fuel from food, oxygen is needed. Once
converted to chemical energy in the body, vital life processes are
performed.

Energy is defined as the capacity to do work. Every cell needs

energy for involuntary activity ( e.g., breathing, circulation of the
blood, heart beats, etc.) and voluntary activities(e.g., exercising,
lifting, talking, walking, etc.
MEASUREMENT
OF ENERGY
The unit of measuring energy in foods and for
the body's needs is the kilocalorie kcal ( Large
calorie). It is the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of one kilogram of
water to 1 C. The energy value of foods may
be derived from carbohydrate, protein, fat ,
and may be measured directly by means of
the bomb calorimeter, just as one would
measure weight in pounds or kilos.
In the bomb calorimeter, a weighed amount of food is placed in the
chamber of the calorimeter and the instrument is immersed in
water. when the foods is ignited in the presence of oxygen, the
increase in temperature of the surrounding water indicates the
number of kcal given off by the oxidation of food. this is called heat
of combustion.
 The energy is produced by the oxidation of the carbon to CO2,
hydrogen to H2O, and the nitrogen from protein to nitrous oxide. The
body cannot utilize the energy from nitrogen but is capable of releasing
the energy potential of carbon and hydrogen. The heat produced in the
bomb calorimeter is greater than the heat produced in the body since
man does not efficiently digest, absorb and oxidize food energy. The
extent of digestion varies with each type of food. Thus, the coefficients
of digestibility are applied. In a mixed diet, about 92% of protein, 98%
of carbohydrate and 95% of fat are digested .
 ENERGY NEEDS
How many calories do you really need each day? The total energy requirement of all
human beings depends upon 3 factors:

1. Basal metabolism or resting energy expenditure ( REE)

2. Physical activity
3. Thermic effect of food ( TEF) formerly called specific dynamic action of food (
SDA).

For persons with other physiological needs like growth, pregnancy and lactation,
additional energy is needed.
 Conditions Necessary for
Determining Basal Metabolism(
BMR)
Basal Metabolism
Refers to the energy expended in the maintenance of "
basal metabolic" processes, or involuntary activities in the
body ( respiration, circulation, gastrointestinal
contractions, and maintenance of muscle tonus and body
temperature) and the functional activities of various
organs ( kidneys, liver, endocrine glands, etc.)


To insure accuracy in determining basal metabolism, the subject must:

a.) Be in a fasting or post- absorptive state, at least 12 hours after the last meal ( the test
is usually taken in the morning);
b.) Be awake, lying quietly, free from physical fatigue , nervousness or tension as this
causes an increase in heat production; and
c.) The environmental temperature should be between 20-25 C so that they can maintain
his body temperature.

 Factors that influence BMR

A person's BMR may be responsible for buring up to 70% of total
calories expended, although this figure varies according to various
factors.
Body Size/Surface Area
The size and shape of an individual influences basal
metabolism
Sex
Women have 6-10% lower basal metabolic rate than men because of
sex differences in body mass and hormones

Body Temperature
An increase in body temperature as in fever will cause a 7% rise
above 98.6 F or 13% rise for each degree above 37 C.
 Growth
An increase in basal metabolic rate is noted with an increase in the rate
of growth especially during the first 5 years of life and before puberty.

Age
A person's BMR decrease as a person age; after twenty years, their BMR
drops by approximately 2% each decade.

Pregnancy and Lactation

During prenancy and lactation, the basal metabolic rate is increased by 20- 25%, because of the
development of the fetus and placenta; plus an increase in metabolic activity of the maternal
tissues
Body Composition
Water, bone and fat do not actively participate in energy metabolism, because the
seat of energy exchage is in the active protoplasm or in the muscles.
State of nutrition/body condition
The basal metabolic rate is low in obesity, in starvation, hypothyroidism
and undernutrition.
 Climate
The third FAO/WHO committee recommended no changes of energy needs for
climate or environmental temperature.
Hormone Secretion
Secretions of the thyroid gland have the greatest effect on basal energy
needs.
Sleep
Basal metabolism is reduced by about 10% during sleep, because of a relaxation of muscle
tension but could be counteracted by the energy expanded in tossing and turning during
sleep.

Exercise or Muscular Activity

Any form of exercise causes an increase in energy expenditure above basal
needs.
Diet
Abrupt calorie-reduction or starvation may radically reduce a
person's BMR by up to 30%.
Genetics
Some persons are born with either slower or faster metabolism.

External Temperature
Temperature outside of a person's body can also affect their BMR.
Physical or
Muscular Activity
(PA)
Energy expended depends on the duration,
intensity and frequency of the physical activity.
It contributes 20-30% to the body's total
energy output. physical activity will determine
weight loss or weight gain. If the calories are
used up by exercise or physical activity, the
body will not gain weight.
Thermic effect
of food ( TEF),
formerly specific
Dynamic Action
(SDA)
when food is ingested, digested, absorbed and
metabolized, basal metabolism is increased by
about 5-10% due to the stimulating effect of the
chemical products of food.
 Growth, Pregnancy and lactation
Whenever new tissues develop, an increase in energy requirement results. This has been
approximated as 15-20 kcal/kg of body weight per day. For pregnancy, the FAO/WHO Committee
recommends an average of 285 kcal/day ( 150 kcal/day in the first trimester and 360 kcal/day in
the second and third trimesters.

ESTIMATING TOTAL ENERGY NEEDS OR ESTIMATED

ENERGY REQUIREMENT ( EER)

The total energy needs of an individual is the composite of energy necessary to

replace basal metabolic needs, energy expenditure for physical activities , thermic
effect of food and other physiologic factors as explained before.
ENERGY BALANCE
Also called caloric balance, energy balance is the
equilibrium between energy intake and energy output.
 ENERGY IMBALANCE

Undernutrition ( reflected as underweight and obesity

are cases of energy imbalance. both indicate the amount
of adipose or fatty tissues and mean body mass in a
person's composition.
 EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
It is now common knowledge that practically all weight reduction programs of private
agencies, medical clinics, health education classes on wellness and preventive
medicine, include exercising with dieting.
THE END