Foods

BODY ENERGY BALANCE (Weight Control)

Obesity ( more than 30% overfat) is a major problem in Canada and is associated with health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.  On the other hand, many Canadians are too concerned about their body size and have nutritionally inadequate diets in order to conform to society’s body image.

Weight control is a balance of energy intake from food and energy output from your BMR (basal metabolic rate) and physical activity.  When your intake equals your output, body weight remains constant (energy balance equation).

As your body weight changes so may your body composition and vice versa.  Body composition will change in terms of  amount of fat and muscle tissue.  The amount of physical activity you do, in combination with altered food intake will influence your body composition.  Your age, frame size and gender also influence your body composition.

Energy Balance

First some information:

• l lb of fat = 3500 calories
• For long term weight change the recommendation is 1- 2  lbs (0.5- 1 kg) per week (or a difference of 500 - 1000 Calories (14644 - 29288 kJ) /day).
• For weight reduction: physical activity and/or caloric intake for a combined effect of the deficit in Calories (kilojoules).

	Eat	Use	Effect on Body Weight
1.	2500 calories	2500 calories	Your body weight stays the same
2.	2500 calories	2000 calories	You have 500 calories which your body will store.  Over 1 week you store 3500 calories which equals 1 lb of fat.
3.	2000 calories	2500 calories	You lose weight.  Over 1 week you would create a deficit of 3500 calories and lose 1 lb of fat.