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

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Synopsis

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

The use of "calories" in the context of weight loss is rooted in well-established scientific principles. Calories are a unit of energy, and the concept of energy balance—calories consumed versus calories expended—forms the foundation for understanding weight management. Numerous controlled clinical trials and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that a caloric deficit, wherein an individual consumes fewer calories than they expend, leads to weight loss. This relationship is based on the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Thus, when the body takes in fewer calories than it needs for maintenance and activity, it must utilize stored energy, primarily from fat stores, resulting in weight loss.

Major health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), endorse calorie reduction as a primary strategy for treating overweight and obesity. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have confirmed that caloric restriction, regardless of macronutrient composition, is effective for weight loss. The evidence supporting the role of calorie control in weight loss is robust, consistent, and reproducible across diverse populations and dietary patterns. Therefore, the use of "calories" to support and treat weight loss is justified by strong scientific validation.

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