The mathematics of obesity

likeschocolate
likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Cool NY Times article

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/science/a-mathematical-challenge-to-obesity.html

To quote:
That the conventional wisdom of 3,500 calories less is what it takes to lose a pound of weight is wrong. The body changes as you lose. Interestingly, we also found that the fatter you get, the easier it is to gain weight. An extra 10 calories a day puts more weight onto an obese person than on a thinner one.

Also, there’s a time constant that’s an important factor in weight loss. That’s because if you reduce your caloric intake, after a while, your body reaches equilibrium. It actually takes about three years for a dieter to reach their new “steady state.” Our model predicts that if you eat 100 calories fewer a day, in three years you will, on average, lose 10 pounds — if you don’t cheat.

Replies

  • gujjumitai
    gujjumitai Posts: 2
    It's funny, how in our current society, we have to count calories and balance out our nutrition. Our parents and grandparents never had to do that :(
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    It's funny, how in our current society, we have to count calories and balance out our nutrition. Our parents and grandparents never had to do that :(

    One of the interesting but controversial bits in the article was:
    Beginning in the 1970s ... the price of food plummeted, while the number of calories available to the average American grew by about 1,000 a day. Well, what do people do when there is extra food around? They eat it!

    I found that was one more reason i put on weight after getting a job. I could more easily afford to drive to places instead of walking/taking public transport. And I could afford to buy more nummies... :|
  • Susabelle64
    Susabelle64 Posts: 207 Member
    It's funny, how in our current society, we have to count calories and balance out our nutrition. Our parents and grandparents never had to do that :(

    Our parents and our grandparents were more active regularly and didnt have McD's around every corner. They cooked at home and they ate more local.
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    That is a good point Susabelle.

    We do probably eat unhealthier food & eat out more frequently than our parents did!
  • Silver_Star
    Silver_Star Posts: 1,351 Member
    aah the days when we had to walk or bike everywhere and still eat what we wanted and stayed thin!!

    i never heard of calorie counting til i left India!

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