Marion Nestle & Malden Nesheim
Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim are the authors of Why Calories Count: From Science to Politics.
From their Q & A with Nanci Hellmich at USA Today:
Q: Are all calories created equal when it comes to weight loss?Learn more about the book at Marion Nestle's website.
A: If you lock people in a metabolic ward and feed them the same number of calories in reduced-calorie diets that vary in fat and carbohydrates (all measured), you can show that they lose weight at the same rate regardless of diet composition. The number of calories determines how fast they lose, nothing else.
In the real world, some people lose weight faster on low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets, such as the Atkins diet, especially at the beginning when they excrete so much water. Some people find that low-carbohydrate diets make it easier to reduce calories and stay satiated. And it's always a good idea to cut back on desserts and sodas.
Q: Do excess calories make some people gain weight faster than others?
A: Here's where genetics comes in. In controlled studies of overfeeding, everyone gains weight when they eat more calories than they expend, but at different rates. Some people can overeat and gain only a little weight — growing teenage boys are a good example. They may spontaneously increase their physical activity to burn off excess calories. Other people easily store more of the extra calories as fat.
Q: What is your best advice to people who want to lose weight?
A. Our mantra is: Get...[read on]
The Page 99 Test: Marion Nestle's Pet Food Politics.
The Page 99 Test: Why Calories Count.
--Marshal Zeringue
