What does Professor Giles Yeo say about calories?

Professor Giles Yeo, an expert at the University of Cambridge, explains that the number of calories in a food is not the only factor that matters for weight control. He says "Two hundred calories of doughnuts has a very different impact on the body than 200 calories of steak."

What does the article recommend instead of calorie counting?

Instead of focusing on hitting a specific calorie target, the article suggests "focusing on improving the quality of your diet" by aiming for the right balance of protein, sugar, and fiber.

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Calorie Counting Debunked: The New Science of Effective Weight Loss

Q: How does the article describe the Atwater system for calculating calories?

The article states that the Atwater system, developed 125 years ago, is flawed because it doesn't account for the energy our bodies expend metabolizing different macronutrients. As a result, the calorie values on food labels don't accurately reflect how our bodies use those calories.

14 Aug

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Summary

UK obesity rates continue to climb
Calorie counting is an outdated approach to weight control
Factors like biology, hormones, and food quality affect how we use calories

Calorie Counting Debunked: The New Science of Effective Weight Loss

As of August 14th, 2025, the UK's obesity rates continue to climb, prompting nutrition experts to call for a shift away from the outdated calorie counting approach. According to the latest scientific research, weight control is far more involved than simply "energy in versus energy out."

Giles Yeo, a professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge, explains that the number of calories in a food is only one part of the equation. "Two hundred calories of doughnuts has a very different impact on the body than 200 calories of steak," he says. The quality of the food we consume plays a crucial role in how our bodies utilize the calories.

The article debunks several common myths about calorie counting, including the belief that the most important information on a food label is the calorie count. Experts argue that the Atwater system used to calculate calorie values is flawed, as it doesn't account for the energy our bodies expend metabolizing different macronutrients. Instead of fixating on hitting a specific calorie target, the article recommends focusing on improving the overall quality of one's diet.

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