A calorie is a unit of energy that represents the amount of heat required to heat 1 gram of water 1 degree. We use calories as a way to express amounts of food energy. Therefore, when we talk about caloric intake, we are essentially talking about energy intake.
Caloric Intake
Caloric intake is simply the number of calories ingested; that is, the amount of calories in the foods and fluids we've consumed. The number of calories burned by the body during physical activity and body function is called caloric output.
Intake vs. Output
Body weight is maintained when caloric intake matches caloric output. When intake and output are not balanced, body weight will fluctuate. When there is an excess of calories, they will be stored as fat, thereby causing weight to increase. When caloric output exceeds caloric intake, body weight will decrease.
Weight Gain
A person must take in 3,500 calories more than he burns to gain a pound. In other words, if your caloric intake exceeds your caloric output by 3,500 calories, it will be stored as one pound of body fat.
Weight Loss
Weight is lost when caloric intake is less than caloric output. A good weight loss strategy is to reduce daily caloric intake by 500 calories. Though you can lose weight by simply reducing calories, a combination of increased physical activity and calorie reduction will bring quicker results.
Fat Calories
When considering caloric intake in relation to weight gain and loss, it's important to understand that not all calories are equal. Because it takes nine fat grams to equal a single calorie, it is more difficult to burn those dense calories derived from fat. If you're trying to lose weight, check labels to make sure that the amount of fat calories is 35 percent or less as recommended by the USDA.
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