10/10/2023
It's time to bust the 'calories in, calories out' weight-loss myth
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, there’s a good chance you’ve been told it all comes down to a simple “calories in, calories out” formula.
Firstly it is nearly impossible to calculate accurately
The many calorie-counting apps and online calculators available make it seem effortless. Simply enter your s*x, age, height, weight and they’ll tell you exactly how many calories you should eat daily to lose weight.
Unfortunately, no matter how accurate these calculators claim to be, they rely on averages and can’t determine the calorie intake appropriate for you with 100 percent accuracy.
Similarly, our metabolic rate – how much energy we burn at rest – also varies from person to person including body composition or how much muscle and fat we have. Complicating things further, our metabolic rate also alters when we change our diet and lose weight.
Also while eating 180 calories worth of nuts is the same as eating 180 calories of pizza in terms of energy intake, the way these foods are absorbed and how they affect the body is very different.
Factors that influence how many calories we eat: our environment, how many hours of (quality) sleep we get, our emotional state, our body fat percentage, our hormone levels, and our blood sugar levels.
Factors that influence how many calories we burn: exercise, our lean body mass, our balance of gut bacteria, how many hours of sleep we get, our hormone levels, and our immune function.
Here, if we take an even closer look, it's apparent that the factors that influence our input, can affect the factors that influence our output. For example, high blood sugar levels (or excessive sugar intake) can alter the balance of our gut bacteria. This can make it harder for us to lose weight, and easier for us to crave high fat, high sugar foods. Additionally, lack of sleep can affect our hormone levels, again making it more difficult for us to lose weight.
For long term weight loss, it’s important to follow evidence-based programs with us and make gradual changes to your lifestyle to ensure you form habits that last a lifetime.