Energy & Calories (Edexcel GCSE Physical Education): Revision Notes

Energy & Calories

Energy Use, Diet, Nutrition And Hydration

Balanced Diet:

• Eating the right foods in the right amounts. This will allow us to exercise and work properly

• Insufficient nutrients can cause ill health such as anaemia, rickets and scurvy

• No single food contains all of the nutrients the body needs, so you need to eat a variety of foods in the correct proportions Reasons for a Balanced Diet:

• Any unused energy is stored as fat, which could cause obesity (particularly saturated fat)

• To provide suitable energy that can be used for activity

• To provide the nutrients needed for energy, growth and hydration

Energy Use:

• Energy is measured in calories (Kcal) and is obtained from the food we eat

• The average adult male requires 2500 Kcal per day

• The average adult female requires 2000 Kcal per day

• The average adult female requires 2000 Kcal per day The Number of Calories is Dependent on:

• Age

• Gender

• Height

• Energy expenditure (exercise)

The Energy Balance

• If we eat too much in relation to the amount of activity we do, we will become overweight
• If we eat too little in relation to the amount of activity we do, we will become underweight

Variety as Well as Balance

In our diet we require:

• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Proteins
• Vitamins and minerals