Nutrition · Module 7 · Energy balance and body composition

Energy Balance Lab

Explore how a body uses energy, watch hunger and fullness hormones rise and fall through a day, practise the calculations, sort the ideas, and work through real-life situations. Every number here is a rough population estimate for learning, not a personal target. Nothing here is graded.

Part 1: Energy Use Simulator

Body modelThis is a model of how a body uses energy, not a diet tool. Results are rough population estimates for learning; real people can differ by a few hundred kcal a day or more.

Estimated energy use (rough population estimate)
PartEstimate

How the model works: basal metabolic rate (BMR) is estimated from lean mass (370 + 21.6 × lean mass in kg, a published equation). Resting energy use per kg of lean mass is held steady until about age 60, then lowered about 0.7% per year, based on large recent studies; much of the real change with age comes from losing lean mass, which you can show with the lean mass slider. Total = BMR × activity level; the thermic effect of food is set at 10% of the total, assuming intake matches use. Sleep slightly lowers energy use while asleep, and fewer hours of sleep leave more awake hours for movement. A cool room adds a small amount of adaptive thermogenesis. Organ shares are approximate textbook values. Simplified for learning.