Is a calorie just a calorie? The conventional notion that weight loss really a simple
equation of calorie intake vs energy expenditure may not be completely true.
Especially in the long term. Recent
research suggests that avoidance of specific foods may lead to a more stable
weight pattern.
What is the potato chip study? The New England Journal of Medicine published
a study in June 2011 titled “changes in diet and lifestyle and long term weight gain
in women and men.” The study looked at weight changes at regular intervals in
three study groups. The data was pooled and evaluated for dietary intake
patterns and weight change.
The participants who
ate either potato chips, French fries, or potatoes (prepared another way) had
the most weight gain over the four year period. The greatest weight loss was
seen in groups that consumed low fat yogurt and nuts.
What does this mean? You can simplify this data to mean that
consuming high levels of simple carbohydrates lead to weight gain. The other
foods looked at in the study confirm what we already know about foods:
consuming a diet high in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and minimally processed grains may be
the best for long term metabolic health.
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