What is the type of energy available prior to any losses from both fecal matter and urine?

The correct answer is absolute energy because it refers to the total energy content of food before any energy losses occur during digestion and metabolism, including those lost through fecal matter and urine. This term encompasses all forms of energy in the food, providing a baseline measure of the energy available from the food consumed.

In the context of nutrition and energy measurement, other terms have specific definitions that relate to energy loss at various stages of digestion and utilization. Digestible energy refers to the amount of energy that is absorbed after accounting for energy lost in feces. Metabolizable energy further subtracts the energy lost in urine from the digestible energy, reflecting the energy actually available for metabolic processes. Net energy takes it a step further, factoring in the energy utilized for bodily functions and maintenance, thus representing what is available for growth or production.

Understanding these distinctions is essential for anyone studying sports nutrition, as it highlights how energy is processed and what is actually available for use in athletic performance and recovery.