What is energy expenditure?

Energy expenditure is the total amount of energy that a person expends in a day. It includes several components, primarily:

1. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): This is the energy expended by the body at rest and makes up about 50-70% of total daily energy expenditure. The exact percentage can vary depending on a person's activity level; more sedentary people have a higher proportion from RMR.

2. Thermic Effect of Food (TEF): This accounts for approximately 5-10% of daily energy expenditure. TEF refers to the energy required to digest, absorb, and metabolize food. Each macronutrient—protein, carbohydrates, and fats—has a different thermic effect, with protein having the highest.

The concept of energy expenditure also encompasses the energy used in physical activities and other body processes not included in RMR or TEF. All these collectively determine the total energy expenditure, which plays a crucial role in understanding processes such as weight loss or gain 1.