What it means
The amount of energy food gives the body. The "calories" on food labels are really kilocalories (kcal). Each gram of carbohydrate or protein gives about 4 kcal, each gram of fat about 9 kcal and each gram of alcohol about 7 kcal. When a person takes in more calories than they use, the extra is stored and weight goes up.
For the nurse
Calorie counts are kept for clients at risk of poor nutrition, such as those with burns, cancer, eating disorders or wounds. Record what share of each meal the client eats so the dietitian can work out the intake.
In a chart
"Calorie count day 2: intake about 900 kcal; dietitian consult placed."
Remember it
Fat is "fat" on energy: 9 calories a gram, more than twice protein or carbohydrate.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | kcal (kilocalorie) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | caloría |
| Also written | calories, kcal, kilocalorie, kilocalories |
Related terms
carbohydrate
One of the main nutrients in food, made of sugars and starches, that the body uses for energy.
metabolism
All the chemical processes in the body's cells that make energy, build tissue and break substances down.
saturated fat
A type of fat that is usually solid at room temperature, found mostly in animal foods and some tropical oils.