Broscience FTW

Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.

So today she insisted that you can lose weight while on a surplus as long as you're eating paleo. She vehemently insisted that a calorie deficit is not the only way to lose weight; as long as you're eating "healthy food," you can eat as much as you want (even when it exceeds your daily caloric needs). She knows this because "they've done studies" and "each person is different."

We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

Ah, isn't misinformation great?

My mother does this to me.

She keeps telling me how all I need to do is cut carbs and it'll be impossible to gain weight no matter how much I eat.

Then she tells me to drink more milk.

but i dont understand how inflammation would cause you to stop losing weight.... like wheres the logic in that???

and paleo is a fad diet that has not been around for that long. how does she think people lost weight before then? by accident? it just happened somehow? secret paleo dieting?

Obviously you have no inkling of a clue as to how hormones work with in the human body and how the inflammation upsets the hormonal balance, which leads to weight gain. Hormones such as insulin, grehlin, leptin, cortisol - when these hormones are unbalanced in the body, it will lead to not being able to lose weight at all or weight gain. EVEN with eating very little.

And lets not even delve into when thyroid issues are thrown into the mix.

Obesity itself is a symptom of at the very least low level inflammation in the body.

My mother does this to me.

She keeps telling me how all I need to do is cut carbs and it'll be impossible to gain weight no matter how much I eat.

Then she tells me to drink more milk.

Ha ha! Like this! My mum does the same with me but with Cheese! She keeps trying to make me eat dairylea triangles!!!

but i dont understand how inflammation would cause you to stop losing weight.... like wheres the logic in that???

and paleo is a fad diet that has not been around for that long. how does she think people lost weight before then? by accident? it just happened somehow? secret paleo dieting?

Obviously you have no inkling of a clue as to how hormones work with in the human body and how the inflammation upsets the hormonal balance, which leads to weight gain. Hormones such as insulin, grehlin, leptin, cortisol - when these hormones are unbalanced in the body, it will lead to not being able to lose weight at all or weight gain. EVEN with eating very little.

And lets not even delve into when thyroid issues are thrown into the mix.

Obesity itself is a symptom of at the very least low level inflammation in the body.

So hormonal imbalances shut down your organs and muscles completely? Cool.

We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

Ah, isn't misinformation great?

I have been working with Endocrinologists for over 10 years to get my hormones in balance so I was able to lose weight.

We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

You could always point to people who lost weight while reducing portions of "inflammatory" foods. Or those who lost weight simply by exercising more, while still eating the same non-paleo processed foods.

I wouldn't give up on her. She mentioned "studies", so she has SOME respect for science. Maybe tap into that by looking at the actual studies with her on PubMed.

Besides, most versions of "paleo" are pretty decent, and she implied that she eats healthy, so i wouldn't alienate her. She's our ally in the war on fat.

The person I know who makes these kind of arguments just says that they're doomed to gain it back because restricting calories never works and when they stop torturing themselves they'll regain.