Is a Calorie a Calorie?

Disclaimer: We are not dietitians

To lose weight, it is quite simple.  Burn more calories than you consume.  If you calculate your caloric output to be 3,000 calories, then just eat less than 3,000 calories.  Well, it might not be that simple.

I am going to share with you two stories that show how a calorie may not be just a calorie after all.  The first story comes from a documentary called That Sugar Film (2014).  In this film, director Damon Gameau consumed 40 teaspoons of added sugars for 6 weeks.  40 teaspoons is roughly the daily average consumption in Australia, where the film was shot.  Before the experiment, Damon’s normal caloric intake was 2,300 calories (50% fat, 26% protein, 24% carbs).  During the experiment, his diet was 26% protein and 74% refined carbs, while keeping his total caloric intake the same (2,300 calories).  Some days during the experiment, Damon even consumed under 2,300 calories.  The results were quite interesting.  Damon gained 16 pounds, 7% body fat, and 10cm in his waist.  It’s important to note that he continued with his normal exercise regimen during the 6 weeks.

Damon Garneau’s before and after results following his sugar experiment in his film That Sugar Film (2014).

The second story comes from Dr. Jason Fung’s The Obesity Code (2016).  In one section of the book, they did a self-experiment that involved consuming 5,794 calories per day, consisting of natural foods, high fat and low carb.  This went on for 3 weeks, with a prediction of +16lb.  Instead, the individual gained 2.8 lbs and lost an inch in his waist.  To rule out that this individual was not a genetic abnormality, they went ahead and fed him 5,794 calories consisting of highly processed foods for 3 weeks.  He ended up gaining 15.6 lbs and adding 3.6 inches to his waist.

In the end, these two stories are anecdotes.  However, they do shine light on diet and exercise, and are worth looking into.  Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Written by Kenneth Kells III, DPT