Final answer:
True: the chemical energy from consumed food is converted and stored as fat in the body for later use if it is not immediately expended as energy for metabolism or physical activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement you provided is indeed true. The energy in the food we eat is either released through metabolic processes or stored in our bodies for future use. Our bodies function continuously as energy conversion systems, taking in chemical energy from food which is utilized in various forms such as work, thermal energy, or stored as chemical energy in the form of fat.
During the absorptive state, our body digests and absorbs nutrients, and excess energy from food that isn't needed immediately for work or heat production is stored as fat. Furthermore, energy stored in adipose tissue is used during periods of fasting or starvation to meet the body's needs. This energy management is crucial for maintaining health and supporting our daily activities.
An aspect of this energy balance is that if we consume more energy than we expend, our body's average internal energy (AU) increases, leading to fat storage. The same principle applies when we consume less energy than we expend, resulting in AU being negative and our body then metabolizes its own fat to maintain physiological functions, leading to weight loss.