by Raynie Andrewsen

Created on: April 10, 2011   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

While counting calories may seem like a good idea, counting calories alone will not help you lose weight.  This is because unless you understand how your body gains weight, counting calories is a moot point.

Every Body is Different. 

The 2,000 calorie diet that consumers see on every nutrition label is not for everyone.  Each individual needs a certain amount of calories which is based on their unique physical attributes.  Heavier individuals will need more calories just to keep their bodies functioning.  These are the calories required for breathing, pumping blood, or walking and do not include actual exercise.  These calories are those required for basic metabolic functions—just to stay alive.

According to the USDA, “The energy requirement depends upon a person’s age, gender, body size and physical activity level.”  This number is an important starting point for an individual who plans to count calories.  However, a recent survey conducted by Tufts University showed that only 17% of those surveyed could accurately estimate how many calories a person of their age, height, weight and activity level should consume.

Understanding Calories

Every action in the body requires energy.  The energy is measured in calories.  Where does the energy come from? The food you eat.  Everything an individual eats, be it proteins, carbohydrates or fat, is converted into calories for energy. The International Food Information Council Foundation’s (IFICF) flyer, Finding Balance: Understanding how Calories Work states, “When we consume too many calories, the excess calories are stored as body fat. This can contribute to weight gain and ultimately, health issues.”  

The Fat Factor

Fat contains more calories than other foods.  One gram of fat is equal to 9 calories.  According to the IFICF, “Although research in the area is still ongoing, some studies have suggested that excess calories from fat are more easily converted to body fat, as opposed to excess calories from carbohydrate or protein.”  This means that there is a possibility that some calories will become body fat more readily than others.  Thus a 2,000 calorie diet composed primarily of fat calories as opposed to one composed of calories from protein and carbohydrates would contribute to more body fat.

Fat calories become fat.  Fat contributes to increased health problems.  According to the Surgeon General, “Nearly two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese and one out of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to overweight and obesity.”  Excess weight is a main contributor to heart disease which is the leading cause of death among Americans.

While it is true that to lose weight one must burn more calories than he or she consumes, there is more to being healthy than just losing weight.  Likewise, there is more to losing weight than just counting calories.  One must understand that every body is unique and a 2,000 calorie diet is not appropriate for every individual.  It is important to realize that the correct food choices, not simple calorie counting, contribute to optimal nutrition and weight loss.  Counting calories is certainly a good idea but there must be an understanding of how calories work and where to begin.

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