This activity page will offer:

• The opportunity to create a daily food record
• A chance to compare nutrient intake with minimum requirements
• An opportunity to apply critical thinking to healthy food choices

Consumed and Expended Calories
Gain or losing of weight depends on a balance between calories consumed and calories expended. When the amount of consumed calories is greater than the number of calories needed to maintain a healthy body, the excess is stored as fat. In contrast, if the consumed calorie amount is less than the number of calories needed to maintain the body, fat is burned in order to make up the difference. This results in a weight loss.

Knowing the Balance
To best understand your calorie balance, you should be aware of how many calories you burn in a day. This amount, known as the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), varies widely among individuals. On average, for females in the U.S. this maintenance level is between 2000-2100 calories per day. Males have a higher TDEE at 2700-2900 calories per day. In the following activity, you'll determine your caloric intake. You'll also use several calculations to determine your personal TDEE.

Materials

• Calculator
• Copies of Reporting Sheets
  
  SAFETY NOTE: The caloric intake and TDEE values calculated in this activity should NOT be used as a basis for an actual diet. They are approximations that are only applicable to this activity. To determine actual values, see a professional nutritionist or a physician.
  

Steps

1. Make three copies of the food reporting sheet. Label and date each copy for three consecutive days.
2. On day one, begin reporting each food item you consume. Organize the foods in sequence under the headings of breakfast, lunch and diner. If you need more space, continue the list on the reverse side of the reporting sheet.
3. Determine calories by using the information reported as nutritional facts on the container of the food item. If you don't have access to these facts, you can use print resources or log onto the URL http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/.
4. From the three days of reporting, calculate an average daily calorie consumption. Record this number as caloric intake.
   

Determining TDEE

1. The simplest (and least accurate) method to determine TDEE involves a simple calculation. Determine your body weight in pounds. Multiple this number by 15.5 in order to approximate your TDEE. NOTE: Although this method is simple, it is highly inaccurate, especially when it is applied to individuals who are significantly overweight.
2. Using the number you've calculated above, compare it to your average caloric intake. If the intake and TDEE are about equal, then most likely you'll maintain a stable body weight. If your intake is several calories less than the TDEE, then you should lose weight. Likewise, if your intake is several calories more than your TDEE, you should gain weight.
   
   Harris-Benedict Calculation T
   
3. The Harris-Benedict calculation is a little more complex in calculating, but it provides a more accurate TDEE. It does not, however, include muscle-to-fat ratios in its computation. The Harris-Benedict formula uses two steps to determine the TDEE. First a base TDEE is determined. Then, the base is adjusted for activity level.
   
   To determine the base TDEE for females:
   TDEE = 655 + (4.4 x weight pounds) + (4.6 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
   
   To determine the base TDEE for males:
   TDEE = 655 + (6.2 x weight pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)
   
   
4. Adjust your TDEE for your activity level by multiplying the values calculated in step four by the appropriate value listed below.
   
   

   	Females	Males
   Little or no exercise	TDEE x 1.2	TDEE x 1.2
   Light exercise	TDEE x 1.375	TDEE x 1.375
   Moderate exercise	TDEE x 1.55	TDEE x 1.55
   Heavy exercise	TDEE x 1.725	TDEE x 1.725
   Very heavy exercise	TDEE x 1.9	TDEE x 1.9 6

   
   
5. Record your TDEE and compare it to the caloric intake you entered in your journal.

Questions

1. What would be the likely outcome if your TDEE were greater than your caloric intake? Explain.
2. What would be the likely outcome if your TDEE were less than your caloric intake? Explain.
3. Why is the Harris-Benedict calculation more accurate than the initial estimate presented in step one?
   

Online Ads
As you are aware, the Internet offers all sorts of information. To use this information wisely, one must critically examine the posting content and underlying philosophy of the site. Search the Internet for commercial diet sites. Select several sites. Analyze their pages for unbiased information, assumptions and hidden agendas. What are they selling? Is their information valid?

Balance Point
As you learned in this segment, people seem to be programmed to a general weight set point. Once an intense dieting regimen ends, people are likely to return to their pre-diet weight. How could you communicate this concept using an ordinary ruler balanced on a fulcrum (like a seesaw)?

Diet Ad Index
What is the ratio of diet advertisements to other types of ads in magazines? Examine an assortment of magazines that specialize in topics such as sports, news, self-help, fashion, celebrities, and homes. Count the number of ads that pertain to diet and the total number of ads. Calculate a ratio of diet:total ads for each magazine. Create a class chart based on your findings that identifies how each magazine fits into this ratio.

Web Connection

Food and nutrition information center
website run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic

Fast Food and Calories
A unique calorie counting site that lets you select familiar food items from national fast-food restaurants
http://www.chowbaby.com/10_2000/
fastfood/fast_food_nutrition.asp

Dieting Review
An easy-to-use Web site that offers information on dozens of diets, nutrition facts, and online weight-loss tools.
http://www.dieting-review.com/

Academic Advisors for this Guide:
Suzanne Panico, Science Teacher Mentor, Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge, MA
Anne E. Jones, Science Department, Wayland Middle School, Wayland, MA
Gary Pinkall, Middle School Science Teacher, Great Bend Public Schools, Great Bend, KS
Cam Bennet Physics/Math Instructor Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School Dauphin, MB Canada