Calories are units of energy that enable the body to function. Food provides this energy, which the body uses and stores. When breaking down food, calories are released as energy.
How many calories are in one pound of body weight?
There are about 3,500 calories in a pound (lb) of body fat. To lose 1 kg of body fat in a week, you must have a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day. This can be achieved by consuming 500 calories less per day, exercising to burn 500 calories, or combining both. If the body absorbs too many calories or burns little, weight gain occurs. This happens because the body stores calories it does not use.
It is estimated that muscle burns 10-15 calories per kilogram per day, which is 4.5-7 kcal/lb per day. Muscles use about 20% of the total energy consumption every day.
How do we calculate calories?
Calories in food do not have precisely the exact measurement inside the body as outside. Scientists measure the amount of energy in calories by using a device called a bomb calorimeter. By burning the food in this unit, scientists can measure the heat released to determine the number of calories in the food. How we burn calories depends on metabolism, digestion, and general health conditions.
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