Many “experts” claim that calories in minus calories out equals net weight gain. Based on this it is often claimed that by adding up all energy in food, subtracting the basal metabolic rate and the energy used in exercise, a result will be derived that indicates the amount of weight that a person might gain or lose. The main problem with this is that it does not take account of a number of factors and is therefore useless as a predictive measure. Firstly, the fibre in foods can be utilised as a source of energy through fermentation in the gut, and this energy is never included in the equation. Secondly, the thermic effect of food and exercise, i.e. that proportion of the diet or activity that results in heat generation and loss is almost always never accurately calculated. Eating food and performing activity makes you hot and this heat is generated from the food you eat, and the energy is wasted as it dissipates in the environment. People that rely on this equation to predict estimates of weight loss, therefore rarely get accurate results from its use.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, protect Yourself
RdB
