In relation to food and the body, calories are units of energy that allow the body to work. Food provides this energy, some of which the body stores and some of which it uses. As the body breaks down food, it releases calories as energy.
Max Wishnofsky first propagated the concept that there are approximately 3500 calories trusted source in a pound (lb) of body fat.
Put simply, to lose 1 lb of body fat per week, people will need to have a deficit of around 500 calories trusted source per day. They can achieve this by consuming roughly 500 calories fewer than they are currently, by burning an extra 500 calories per day with exercise, or a combination of the two.
If the body takes in too many calories or burns too few, weight gain occurs. This is because the body stores calories it does not use as body fat. Organs including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys account for roughly 80 % of total daily energy use.
Recent Research calls this rule into question, concluding that it overestimates someone’s weight loss potential. The rule does not take into account dynamic changes in metabolism, hunger, and satiety levels as weight loss occurs.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a new, more accurate rule-of-thumb: Every 10 calorie decrease per day leads to an eventual 1 lb loss. Only time will tell how long that weight loss takes, so patience and consistency is key.
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