Nutrition Myth: Calories In vs. Calories Out | Healthy Nest Nutrition

After reading yet another article about nutrition myths, I found myself thinking about how Calories In/Calories Out is still being talked about as THE important aspect in weight gain and loss. This one just keeps hanging on because it contains one kernel of truth. But, in my opinion, the concept is just too simplistic. This is a much more complicated story.

The notion of number of calories you eat needs to be less the number you expend as the only answer for weight loss is dumbing down the problem. Our bodies are complicated systems and to tackle weight loss, we need to address the issue from MANY angles to systematically put new sustainable habits into place.

In my opinion, other aspects of food matter as much or more than calories: food nutrient density, food macronutrient split, portions, food timing, emotional eating, getting to the kitchen/grocery store, habits around planning and prepping, individualized gender, age, activity level, hormone balance (stress, sex, sugar, thyroid, hunger/full), consistency, and I am sure there are more. So, while the calories and the energy they provide are important, they are only one aspect in a body system that works synergistically for weight goals. Each aspect needs to be addressed in a personalized way.

Let’s dig in.