Comment on the statement: 'Respiration is an energy-producing process,but $ATP$ is being used in some steps of the process.'

(N/A) Respiration is a catabolic process that occurs in a stepwise manner.
Although the primary goal of respiration is to produce energy in the form of $ATP$,energy is initially required to activate certain substrates.
For example,in the initial steps of glycolysis,$ATP$ is consumed to phosphorylate glucose into glucose-$6$-phosphate and fructose-$6$-phosphate into fructose-$1,6$-bisphosphate.
This investment of $ATP$ is necessary to destabilize the glucose molecule,making it reactive for subsequent breakdown.
When one molecule of $ATP$ is hydrolyzed,it releases $ADP + Pi$ along with approximately $7.3 \ kcal$ of energy.
Therefore,the process involves both an initial investment of energy and a subsequent net gain of energy,ensuring the overall respiratory balance sheet remains positive.