From: hgl@sgmf02.med-forschung.uni-marburg.de (H.G.Loeffler)

Being not a nutritionist, I wonder whether somebody can help me in sorting out an intriguing observation.

How is it possible that persons with a similar caloric intake gain differently in weight? Can this difference simply be linked to a variable basic metabolic

rate? I don´t think that such a mechanism can account for the observed great individual differences. I recently heard that the number of calories derived e.g. from fat might vary within persons. If this is true, the practical value of food tables would very limited. Is there a way of finding out whether I can trust these values or do I have to assume that I belong myself to a group of persons which utilizes fuel in a different manner?

I hope to get some suggestions.

H.G. Loeffler