Getting and Staying Balanced

At its most basic, the energy balance concept is about making sure the calories you (or your child) consume each day are equal to the calories used up by daily activity.

When a good energy balance is achieved you maintain your weight. However, when more calories than necessary are consumed, weight gain is the natural result. Likewise, consuming fewer calories than you need each day causes you to lose weight.

America on the Move™—a national, nonprofit initiative to help communities make small changes toward a healthier lifestyle—is championing energy balance as an important and innovative priority. It is encouraging adults and children to create a better energy balance by walking 2000 more steps per day and eating 100 less calories per day.

Our animated Flash presentation will help you learn more about making energy balance part of your child’s everyday life. (Note: although the tool is based on a 154 lb adult, it still effectively illustrates the general concept of energy balance and how it applies to children.)