Evidence supporting the use of: Calories
For the health condition: Weight Gain

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Calories are a fundamental unit of energy derived from food and beverages. The use of increased caloric intake to support or treat weight gain is grounded in well-established scientific principles. According to the laws of thermodynamics, weight gain occurs when energy intake (calories consumed) exceeds energy expenditure (calories burned). Numerous clinical studies and dietary guidelines confirm that a positive energy balance—consuming more calories than the body uses—leads to increases in body weight, primarily through accumulation of fat and sometimes muscle mass, depending on diet composition and physical activity. This principle underpins the standard medical and nutritional management of underweight individuals, including those with medical conditions such as anorexia nervosa, cachexia, and malnutrition. Major health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, recommend increased caloric intake as the primary intervention for individuals needing to gain weight. The evidence for this approach is robust and widely accepted in both clinical practice and scientific literature. Thus, the use of calories to promote weight gain is justified by extensive scientific validation.

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