What is a kilocalorie also known as?

A kilocalorie is synonymous with the term "Calorie," particularly in the context of nutrition and exercise physiology. In everyday language and dietary contexts, when we refer to "calories," we are typically talking about kilocalories. Specifically, one kilocalorie is equivalent to 1,000 calories in the technical sense used in chemistry and physics, where a "calorie" refers to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

This distinction is critical in the field of exercise physiology, nutrition, and health, as understanding calorie content in food helps individuals manage energy balance, weight, and performance. In contrast, the other terms—joule, watt, and erg—are all units of energy or power related to different contexts and are not interchangeable with the concept of a kilocalorie. Joules measure energy in the International System of Units, watts measure power (or the rate of energy transfer), and erg is another smaller unit of energy, primarily used in the fields of physics and engineering. Thus, recognizing that a kilocalorie is often referred to as a "Calorie" is fundamental for comprehending energy intake and expenditure.