Are the calorie rule books about to be rewritten? The Wall Street Journal definitely thinks so , following the recent publication of a study by pediatrician David Ludwig and nutrition scientist Martijn Katan in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Said study “suggests that the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms tamp down the effects of changes in diet or behavior.” In other words, the effects of consuming 500 additional calories on a daily basis would not be consistent; the amount of weight gained would lessen with each passing year, and eventually level out. For a visual representation of this concept, visit the Wall Street Journal article.
Perhaps even more importantly, this same theory applies to weight loss.
This study challenges the conventional notion that in order to gain or lose a pound of weight, one must consume 3,500 more, or fewer, calories than they already do.
I always found that figure to be a little too perfect, especially since it does not take into account individual metabolic factors. That said, I think it’s important to have an approximate figure to refer to when speaking about the general population.
Mind you, this study is not challenging the notion that weight gain and loss relate to an abundance or deficit of calories.
Rather, “the 3,500-calorie-rule makes sense in short time frames with small diet changes, nutrition experts say. But just as the body requires less fuel to power itself as weight declines, it requires more to create and sustain more weight.”
This is one of the many things I love about nutrition the on-going tweaking of concepts and processes that allows us to grasp a better understanding of the science. This is the same reason why I can’t help but geek out when I read that a new phytonutrient has been identified! Now, where did I leave my pocket protector?
Said study “suggests that the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms tamp down the effects of changes in diet or behavior.” In other words, the effects of consuming 500 additional calories on a daily basis would not be consistent; the amount of weight gained would lessen with each passing year, and eventually level out. For a visual representation of this concept, visit the Wall Street Journal article.
Perhaps even more importantly, this same theory applies to weight loss.
This study challenges the conventional notion that in order to gain or lose a pound of weight, one must consume 3,500 more, or fewer, calories than they already do.
I always found that figure to be a little too perfect, especially since it does not take into account individual metabolic factors. That said, I think it’s important to have an approximate figure to refer to when speaking about the general population.
Mind you, this study is not challenging the notion that weight gain and loss relate to an abundance or deficit of calories.
Rather, “the 3,500-calorie-rule makes sense in short time frames with small diet changes, nutrition experts say. But just as the body requires less fuel to power itself as weight declines, it requires more to create and sustain more weight.”
This is one of the many things I love about nutrition the on-going tweaking of concepts and processes that allows us to grasp a better understanding of the science. This is the same reason why I can’t help but geek out when I read that a new phytonutrient has been identified! Now, where did I leave my pocket protector?