It’s interesting that in the 1998 textbook, The Handbook of Obesity, by Bray, Bouchard and James, it’s stated that “the reduction of energy intake continues to be the basis of successful weight reduction programs”, but later in the book there is this confession: “the results of such energy restricted diets are known to be poor and not long-lasting”. These 3 authors are known to be authorities in the field.
Why is it energy reduction, or calorie restriction, is such a cornerstone of treatment with a high rate of failure?
A 2nd textbook, “Joslin’s Diabetes Mellitus”, 2005 edition, contains a chapter on obesity by researcher Jeffrey Flier, who promotes calorie restriction as the preferred solution to obesity and then turns around and lists numerous ways calorie restricted therapy ultimately fails!
Let’s say you go on a 600 calorie diet. You lose a lot of weight. When you hit goal, what then?
I agree that there is a genetic component to why some folks are thin and some folks struggle with their weight. There are folks who cannot gain weight no matter how much they eat just as there are people who gain and gain until they are morbidly obese. However, you and I disagree on the cause of those heavy people’s body composition. Those people can and do lose weight when they restrict (THEY DO NOT ELIMINATE) their intake of dietary carbohydrate. As their insulin levels decrease, their fat stores are used as energy and over time they naturally reduce their calorie intake.
The authors are stating the obvious. Consume less energy than you burn and you will lose weight. They also make the obvious point that people don't like starving themselves and, for many, their will power eventually fails. Michael Phelps consumes 12,000 calories a day when he's in training. He's in pretty good shape, don't you think? I don't think he worries about the amount of calories he consumes given his exercise regimen. When I worked out six days a week I could eat anything I wanted and not gain weight.
Why is it energy reduction, or calorie restriction, is such a cornerstone of treatment with a high rate of failure?
People get hungry, especially when they are surrounded by so many great food options. Maintaining the will power to limit your intake to 1,000 calories a day is a tough row to hoe for most people.
Let’s say you go on a 600 calorie diet. You lose a lot of weight. When you hit goal, what then?
If you burn more energy than you consume, you will gain weight. So, the dieter either maintains their low calorie regimen, and ends up chewing water, or they get more exercise and are then able to eat more food. 600 calories a day is pretty crazy. I'd much rather eat more food and make rigorous exercise a regular part of my daily activity.
There are folks who cannot gain weight no matter how much they eat...
Are you one of those folks who thinks they've repealed the first law of thermodynamics? You can't get something from nothing. Sorry.
Those people can and do lose weight when they restrict (THEY DO NOT ELIMINATE) their intake of dietary carbohydrate
And by doing so they also reduce their total caloric intake. Just as I've said, this is about total calories and not about any particular macronutrient.
As their insulin levels decrease, their fat stores are used as energy and over time they naturally reduce their calorie intake.
In an excessively caloric diet, the body will shift away from burning fat to burning carbohydrates causing more dietary fat to be stored.But that doesn't take away from the fact I keep repeating here: If you consume more energy than you burn, you will gain weight. I'm not sure why you think reducing insulin levels will result in a "natural" reduction of caloric intake.