George Monbiot argues we're eating at least 400kcal less than 1970s, exercising same, yet obesity is rising rapidly.
Processed food, he claims, is making us fat (despite us eating correct number of kcal).
This is nonsense for several reasons (thread).
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Processed food, he claims, is making us fat (despite us eating correct number of kcal).
This is nonsense for several reasons (thread).
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Claims in the UK the average calorie intake is 2130kcal/day. This is based on UK Gov self-reported food diaries.
It's very common knowledge that self-reported/diary intakes greatly underestimate food intake. In fact, they make this warning on first page.
It's very common knowledge that self-reported/diary intakes greatly underestimate food intake. In fact, they make this warning on first page.
There are countless studies which show that people grossly underestimate/underreport calorie intake.
Here is just one, which finds that in UK people report just over 2000kcal when actual intake is close to 3000kcal.
…l25mw24492dir.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/upl…
Here is just one, which finds that in UK people report just over 2000kcal when actual intake is close to 3000kcal.
…l25mw24492dir.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/upl…
2130kcal is almost exactly the average recommended intake.
Just not possible for rapid rise in obesity to occur with avg intake of 2130kcal. Yes, there will be a distribution around this (meaning some eat more), but this also means many eating much less. They'd be losing weight
Just not possible for rapid rise in obesity to occur with avg intake of 2130kcal. Yes, there will be a distribution around this (meaning some eat more), but this also means many eating much less. They'd be losing weight
So apparently we're eating 2130kcal, exercising the same, but obesity is rising because of what we're eating.
Yet the (inaccurate) surveys quoted for kcal claim total sugar & fat intake are constant/declining
If you adopt the kcal figure, you can't neglect the sugar & fat ones
Yet the (inaccurate) surveys quoted for kcal claim total sugar & fat intake are constant/declining
If you adopt the kcal figure, you can't neglect the sugar & fat ones
Yet another contradiction:
Food manufacturers are developing products which encourage us to eat more (this is true - we can now consume a lot of calories without noticing).
But here he claims they're making us eat more. Yet earlier we were eating less (only 2130kcal)??
Food manufacturers are developing products which encourage us to eat more (this is true - we can now consume a lot of calories without noticing).
But here he claims they're making us eat more. Yet earlier we were eating less (only 2130kcal)??
This is why people get confused about nutrition. We make it more complex than it needs to be.
Your weight is controlled by simple energy balance. Calories in > calories out = gain weight.
Body composition, how you feel, other health factors strongly influenced by *what* you eat
Your weight is controlled by simple energy balance. Calories in > calories out = gain weight.
Body composition, how you feel, other health factors strongly influenced by *what* you eat
Obesity rates are rising because we eat more calories than we burn
Food producers are important here because they can produce calorie-dense products. But the notion that obesity is rising while we're consuming barely enough calories to sustain is nonsense.
/thread
Food producers are important here because they can produce calorie-dense products. But the notion that obesity is rising while we're consuming barely enough calories to sustain is nonsense.
/thread
