Two snack formulations have identical calorie counts but different macronutrient distributions. From a metabolic perspective, which statement is the best evaluation of how the body treats these calories?

High-protein formulations always yield more net usable calories in metabolism because protein digestion is completely lossless and increases energy availability.

Although total energy is the same, macronutrient composition affects metabolic pathways, satiety, and storage (e.g., high-fat snacks provide more energy per gram and may be stored differently), so identical calories can have different physiological outcomes.

Calories are calories in metabolism: the body treats all macronutrient-derived calories identically with no differences in storage, satiety, or metabolic cost of processing.

From a metabolic viewpoint, carbohydrate calories are preferentially stored as long-term adipose tissue immediately after consumption whereas fat calories are rapidly excreted unused by the body.