Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only converted in form.
The first law of thermodynamics can also be stated as the law of conservation of energy. In terms of biology, it means that any work done by an organism requires a corresponding input of energy. Furthermore, the amount of energy going into an organism must equal the change in energy content associated with the organism in combination with the amount of energy that leaves the organism.
Food comes in – more generally, an energy source comes in – it is used by the organism, and ultimately the same amount either stays in the organism or otherwise exits the organism, the latter to a large extent as waste heat. See too the second law of thermodynamics.
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