
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food. It is also known as specific dynamic action (SDA) or the thermic effect of food (TEF). DIT contributes 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure and is usually measured by indirect calorimetry. However, this method does not measure heat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food, as well as changes associated with chronic alterations in the overall level of energy intake. |
| Other names | Specific dynamic action (SDA), thermic effect of food (TEF), heat increment of feeding (HIF) |
| Energy expenditure | DIT contributes 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure. |
| Measurement | DIT is usually quantified by indirect calorimetry, which measures total post-prandial energy expenditure. |
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What You'll Learn
- Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate after eating
- DIT contributes 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure
- DIT is also known as specific dynamic action (SDA) or thermic effect of food (TEF)
- DIT is measured by calorimetry, which doesn't directly measure heat
- DIT is associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) heat production

Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate after eating
DIT is also known as specific dynamic action (SDA) or the thermic effect of food (TEF). It is one of the three components of daily energy expenditure, along with basal metabolic rate and the energy cost of physical activity. The thermic effect of food is one of the components of metabolism, along with resting metabolic rate and the exercise component. A commonly used estimate of the thermic effect of food is about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies substantially for different food components.
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DIT contributes 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food. It is also known as the thermic effect of food (TEF) or specific dynamic action (SDA). DIT is energy dissipated as heat after a meal, contributing 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure. This is due to the cost of processing food for use and storage.
DIT is usually quantified by indirect calorimetry, which measures total post-prandial energy expenditure. This includes the heat energy produced from brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the energy required for processing and storing nutrients. However, indirect calorimetry does not measure heat directly, which has led to questions over whether it reliably quantifies DIT.
The thermic effect of food is one of the components of metabolism, along with resting metabolic rate and the exercise component. A commonly used estimate of the thermic effect of food is about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies substantially for different food components. For example, studies have found that the sequence of macronutrient oxidation in the postprandial state is alcohol, protein, carbohydrate, and fat.
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DIT is also known as specific dynamic action (SDA) or thermic effect of food (TEF)
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is also known as specific dynamic action (SDA) or thermic effect of food (TEF). It refers to the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food, as well as changes associated with chronic alterations in the overall level of energy intake. DIT is the amount of energy expenditure above the basal metabolic rate due to the cost of processing food for use and storage. It contributes 5–15% to total daily energy expenditure.
DIT is usually quantified by indirect calorimetry, which measures total post-prandial energy expenditure, including heat energy produced from brown adipose tissue (BAT) and energy required for processing and storing nutrients. However, indirect calorimetry does not directly measure heat, which has led to questions over whether it reliably quantifies DIT.
The thermic effect of food is one of the components of metabolism, along with resting metabolic rate and the exercise component. A commonly used estimate of the thermic effect of food is about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies substantially for different food components.
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DIT is measured by calorimetry, which doesn't directly measure heat
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food. It is also known as the thermic effect of food (TEF) or specific dynamic action (SDA). DIT is measured by calorimetry, which doesn't directly measure heat. Instead, calorimetry measures total post-prandial energy expenditure (EE), which includes the heat energy produced from brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the energy required for processing and storing nutrients. The thermogenic activity of BAT is stimulated by cold and by a meal, which induces a parallel increase in energy production.
DIT contributes 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure. A commonly used estimate of the thermic effect of food is about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies for different food components. The hierarchy in macronutrient oxidation in the postprandial state is reflected similarly in DIT, with the sequence alcohol, protein, carbohydrate, and fat.
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DIT is associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) heat production
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food, contributing 5-15% to total daily energy expenditure. DIT is associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) heat production.
DIT is synonymous with the heat increment of feeding (HIF) used by agricultural nutritionists. It is the amount of energy expenditure above the basal metabolic rate due to the cost of processing food for use and storage. This includes the energy required for processing and storing nutrients, as well as the heat energy produced from BAT.
The thermic effect of food (TEF) is one of the components of metabolism, along with resting metabolic rate and the exercise component. TEF is estimated to be about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies for different food components. For example, the sequence of macronutrient oxidation in the postprandial state is alcohol, protein, carbohydrate, and fat.
DIT can be quantified by indirect calorimetry, which measures total post-prandial energy expenditure. However, this method does not directly measure heat. To assess thermogenesis independently, infrared thermography can be employed.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is the increase in metabolic rate that follows the ingestion of food, as well as changes associated with chronic alterations in the overall level of energy intake. It is energy dissipated as heat after a meal, contributing 5–15% to total daily energy expenditure.
Diet-induced thermogenesis is usually measured by indirect calorimetry, which uses gas exchange to measure total post-prandial energy expenditure. This includes the heat energy produced from brown adipose tissue and the energy required for processing and storing nutrients.
The thermic effect of food (TEF) is the amount of energy expenditure above the basal metabolic rate due to the cost of processing food for use and storage. It is one of the components of metabolism and is estimated to be about 10% of one's caloric intake, though this varies for different food components.











































