Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 11:18:19 -0500

From: Jim Barron <jdbarron@cphl.mindspring.com>

Subject: Re: Calorie intake

> 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

There is considerable variation between individuals between how much

weight is gained on the same amount of calories and even on the same

diet. This is a matter of *metabolic efficiency and basal metabolic

rate*. (Individuals burn very different amounts of calories when

"resting".) In addition the SAME individual may vary greatly in both

his/her metabolic efficiency and in metabolic basal rate. These

variations are caused by the amount of muscle (muscle burns calories

just maintaining itself) and by dietary history. Periods of stringent

calorie reduction (dieting) lead to increases in metabolic efficiency.

This is one reason why individuals who have dieted a lot tend to gain

weight even when eating relatively little.

The BEST solution is to increase muscle mass (by exercising) and then

burn more calories (by continuing to exercise).

Greatly reducing fat, meat and processed, refined foods makes weight

control much easier. (Calories are less dense and MORE nutritious (and

you don't overeat in an attempt to correct a deficiency).

SOME individuals may have metabolic problems that make weight control

more difficult. But the MAJORITY of those overweight in the US are so

because of lifestyles. (It can't ALL be genetic, because we are FAR

more overweight than ALL of the countries that our ancestors came from.

jdbarron@cphl.mindspring.com