Section: Module 5: Lesson 1: Energy Balance and Nutritional Requirements | Public Health Nutrition | NextGenU.org

  • Student Learning Outcomes:
    Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
    • Understand the concept of energy balance and the principles and methods of measuring/estimating it.
    • Describe the correlation between physical activity and fitness regarding energy expenditure.
    • Discuss how body mass and energy balance are maintained and regulated through diet variation, etc.
    • Understand the science behind the measurement and estimation of nutritional requirements.
    • Understand dietary reference values for the general population.
    • Describe the importance of determining the measure of nutritional requirements and dietary reference values for the general population.
    • Explore scientific techniques and methods in measuring and estimating nutritional requirements and dietary reference values for the general population.
    Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 2 hours and 14 minutes.

    Click here to start this lesson

    • Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • Read the content under "INTRODUCTION," "QUESTION 1" and "QUESTION 2." ( 23 minutes)

      American Society of Nutrition - 2012

    • Read the entire article.  (19 minutes)

      European Journal of Clinical Nutrition  - 2016

    • Read the entire page. (9 minutes)

      LibreTexts - 2020

    • Explore the webpage. This "Interactive DRI for Healthcare Professionals" is a useful tool to calculate individual Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) values. Students can input their age, sex, height, weight, and activity level, and the tool produces personalized dietary intake levels. (5 minutes)

      Food and Nutrition Information Center

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • Read and explore the resources associated with this to learn more about Dietary Reference Intakes. (10 minutes)

      U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE