This module explains how calories and macronutrients relate to each other and how they combine to form your daily energy intake.


Calories and Energy Balance

  • Calories are a unit of energy found in food.

  • Your macros add up to your total daily calorie budget.

  • If intake is above what your body needs, the excess is stored as fat.

  • When calorie intake is too low, the body can draw on stored body fat to cover the gap.

  • Kilojoules measure the same thing as calories; they are just a different unit system. 1 calorie = 4.18 kilojoules.


What Macros Are

  • Macros is short for macronutrients.

  • The main macros are: Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat & Alcohol.

  • These macros combine to make up total calorie intake.


Calories per Gram

  • Protein: 4 calories per gram

  • Carbohydrates: 4 calories per gram

  • Fat: 9 calories per gram

  • Alcohol: 7 calories per gram

Calories and Macros Knowledge Check

Complete the seven questions below to check your understanding. Select one answer for each question, then submit your responses.

0 of 7 questions answered
1. What does a calorie measure?
2. What is the relationship between calories and kilojoules?
3. What is the best definition of a macronutrient?
4. Which are the three main macronutrients?
5. How many calories are provided by one gram of protein?
6. Which macronutrient provides the most calories per gram?
7. What may happen when you consistently consume more energy than your body uses?