Which statement best describes a negative energy balance?

Which statement best describes a negative energy balance?

• A. Consuming more calories than expended
• B. Expending more calories than consumed
• C. Equal calories consumed and expended
• D. Calories from fat are more energy-efficient

Answer: (B)

Negative energy balance means you burn more calories than you take in. When energy output exceeds intake, the body taps stored energy (mostly fat) to meet its needs, which over time leads to weight loss. The statement describing expending more calories than consumed captures this idea exactly. The other ideas don’t describe this balance: taking in more calories than you burn is a positive energy balance, and equal calories in and out is neutral energy balance. The note about calories from fat being more energy-efficient relates to energy density, not the balance between intake and expenditure.

Negative energy balance means you burn more calories than you take in. When energy output exceeds intake, the body taps stored energy (mostly fat) to meet its needs, which over time leads to weight loss. The statement describing expending more calories than consumed captures this idea exactly.

The other ideas don’t describe this balance: taking in more calories than you burn is a positive energy balance, and equal calories in and out is neutral energy balance. The note about calories from fat being more energy-efficient relates to energy density, not the balance between intake and expenditure.