New Studies Eat Into Diet Math

Wall Street Journal ^ | April 3, 2010 | Carl Bialik

[reaganaut1]

How many calories must a dieter cut to lose a pound?

The answer most dietitians have long provided is 3,500. But recent studies indicate that calories can't be converted into weight through a simple formula.

The result is that the 3,500-calorie rule of thumb gets things very wrong over the long term, and has led health analysts astray. Much bigger dietary changes are needed to gain or shed pounds than the formula suggests.

Consider the chocolate-chip-cookie fan who adds one 60-calorie cookie to his daily diet. By the old math, that cookie would add up to six pounds in a year, 60 pounds in a decade and hundreds of pounds in a lifetime.

But new research—based on studies of volunteers whose calorie consumption is observed in laboratory settings, rather than often-unreliable food diaries—suggests that the body's self-regulatory mechanisms tamp down the effects of changes in diet or behavior. If the new nutritional science is applied, the cookie fiend probably will see his weight gain approach six pounds, and then level off, pediatrician David Ludwig and nutrition scientist Martijn Katan wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this year. The same numbers, in reverse, apply to weight loss.

Rewriting the math on weight change has major implications for efforts to fight obesity.

New York City officials estimated that a local law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information about their menu items, which took effect in 2008, would reduce the number of obese city residents by at least 150,000 over five years. That law was a model for a national measure included in the recently passed health-care bill. But the estimate of obesity reduction was built on the old calorie math.

[reaganaut1]

Cool. I want a chocolate chip cookie.

[ConservativeDude]

New York City officials estimated that a local law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information about their menu items, which took effect in 2008, would reduce the number of obese city residents by at least 150,000 over five years.”

Typical government methodology....and the result here in the real world will also be typical....

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Passing a law “posting” the calorie contents of fast food is only going to reduce the number of people reading the contents.

[Uri’el-2012]

The article starts with a false assumption.

Grams of carbohydrates cause more weight gain than number of calories.

[WackySam]

At a 170 lbs, I can’t eat over 2,500 calories a day without gaining weight- and I cycle 150-350 miles a week.

[svcw]

Ok, so the bottom line is still: eat less, move more and everyone is different, when it comes to losing weight.

[rolling_stone]

Obamacare will make me lose weight, my wallet gets lighter every day...

[dila813]

And the health care bill was built with the old math too, they think they are going to be cutting obesity and saving money as well.

[erman]

how many hours a day do you ride?

[oh8eleven]

That's because your body knows it needs energy to sustain your biking.
When it sees a source, e.g. carbs, it stores them.

[savedbygrace]

New York City officials estimated that a local law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information about their menu items, which took effect in 2008, would reduce the number of obese city residents by at least 150,000 over five years. That law was a model for a national measure included in the recently passed health-care bill. But the estimate of obesity reduction was built on the old calorie math.

And on the ridiculous idea that the obese will be dissuaded from eating what they want to eat just because the calorie information for menu items is available to read.

"Oh dear. I see the triple chocolate mocha cake ala mode is 2,378 calories. I shan't have so many calories as that, my good man. I shan't."

Yeah, right.

[WackySam]

how many hours a day do you ride?

10 to 20.

[txhurl]

You still have time to freep?

[WackySam]

how many hours a day do you ride?

Edit- 10 to 20 hours a week, spread over 3 to 5 days.

[aruanan]

But new research—based on studies of volunteers whose calorie consumption is observed in laboratory settings, rather than often-unreliable food diaries—suggests that the body's self-regulatory mechanisms tamp down the effects of changes in diet or behavior.

The self-regulatory aspects of metabolism have been known for many decades. The ability to adjust intake spontaneously to compensate for over or under-eating relative to one's caloric needs is something that appears to erode with age. Many years ago groups of young and old males were either overfed or underfed to provoke weight gain or loss and then studied afterwards. The younger males spontaneously ate less or more over the succeeding months to regain their pre-study weight. The older men (these were well past middle-aged) stayed either over or underweight.

[JoanneSD]

Passing a law posting the calorie content.. will have to be in 119 languages or so, to make it politcally correct,... plus it will have to list any hint of certain products..i.e. pork!!!!!!

[PoloSec]

The Government solution to weight problems: You must be weighed every month by a designated Gov’t physician. If it is determined you should weigh 170lbs, then you will be taxed for every pound over 170. conversely you will also be taxed for every lb under 170. This would serve the common good of all Americans and further reduce the cost of Obamacare. sic..

[50sDad]

What it will do is reduce the number of successful small businesses that can’t afford complicated and expensive calorie studies.

[Mr Rogers]

I have to roll up the windows when driving by a fast food place - just the smell makes me gain weight! I had to give up TV because the advertisements were making me fat, just by watching!

OK, maybe it isn’t quite that bad, but 40 years ago I lost 45 lbs, and I had to get down to 800 cal/day (while jogging daily) to do so.

Eat less/move more still works, but it works easier for some than others.

[Sherman Logan]

I’ve always thought it would be impossible to ride more than 100 miles a week without losing weight.

I’m very impressed.